Previously on American Soul...
You hear that, Mikey? You're short.
A lot of people
loving Don tonight.
This is Private Barker. He served with your dad.
He'll be staying with us
a few days in the garage.
Your family will be protected.
Simone is a gift.
Almost as good as you were.
-How old are you? -I'll be 17 in a few months.
After today, I realized that I'm running out of time.
I want another shot. I want to dance.
Are you incompetent or just plain stupid?
You will never speak to me like that again.
Hey, aren't you Frederick Douglass?
I've been watching the progress
of our people, and I'm quite familiar with the natural.
And I'm also aware that it is worn as an outward expression
of pride and dignity.
-So, haven't you forgotten...? - Right.
My Afro Sheen comb-easy and hair spray for sheen.
You know, I can dig this getting my fro together.
-I know what you're thinking, Don. - Huh?
Marcus Garvey wasn't available.
108 years of emancipation, George,
and this is what we're worth?
-Oh, save the speech, Don. - George, you know what would happen
if I put this shit on the air?
Now, don't you mean if we put this shit on?
Mr. Cornelius, we're on in ten.
-Energy up, people. Don, I need a word. - Later.
I don't know what surprises me more, the fact that
you made this, or that you can't see how ignorant it is.
"Don't do it. Stay away. It's a minstrel show."
Look, the boys begged me not to back you, Don.
So get down from that high horse and realize
you are not the only one with skin in the game.
But it's my face out there, George.
It wouldn't be out there if it wasn't for me.
It's dumb, shameful and we're cutting it.
It's fun, educational and we are running it.
I'm front-loading every segment I can,
-but if Richard doesn't show... - He will show.
-And if he's not... - He will be here, Tessa.
We've got all the pictures we need, Don.
-Time to finish our sit-down. - Tessa Lorraine, meet Jean Jones.
Jean is with Right On! magazine.
And all I need is one more hour
of this man's time and I'm done.
Ms. Jones is here to interview me for the December issue.
He's on the cover, and I'm on the clock.
Shall we?
Tessa, could you please show Ms. Jones around the set?
-I won't be long. - Of course.
Right this way.
I've seen the set!
The seat of power.
-I like it. - And it likes you.
Mm.
Contracts for the bus tour.
Three acts, five cities.
The other five cities, you're on your own.
Membership has its privileges.
Eh, don't let it go to your head.
What are you doing later?
You, if the mood strikes.
I'm watching Ali/Mathis tonight at the club.
-Join me and we can make a night of it.
You want to show me a good time, you got to do better than that.
Call me when he's fighting Frazier.
Here's my card. I'm telling you, Willie, it's gonna be like
two giants fighting over the beanstalk, baby,
and the golden goose is coming home.
In the center, these two on an angle.
How difficult is that? Hey, hey, hey.
Careful with that case.
Champagne's worth more than your house.
-So why you giving it away? - Thing about being boss, Willie,
the richer you get, the more you get for free.
-You know him? - No.
What can I do for you, Mr. Taylor?
Marlo, please. I'm an investigator.
I'm looking for some answers.
Who's cutting your check?
Shantel Lewis, Michael Lewis's wife.
Mikey? I ain't seen him in a minute.
Well, he's officially missing,
and one of your associates is a prime suspect.
Keep talking, I'll keep listening.
Herschel Green. Mr. Lewis owed him a small fortune.
It's no secret what kind of man Herschel is.
Yeah, I think you should check who you're talking to.
Herschel's my boss.
Your problems with Herschel are also no secret.
You scratch my back, I'll massage yours.
Tell Mrs. Lewis I'm sure Mikey will be home soon.
Sometimes a man just needs a little time to himself.
-What day is it? - Oh, heck nah. No, no.
Ma. Put-- co-- no.
Hey!
Yeah!
You're stupid.
Says the girl wearing a tiara.
-Eh, it wasn't my plan.
You know what to do. Make a wish.
Okay.
-That one. - Oh, good job.
Okay. Okay. Okay.
-Happy birthday, baby. -Oh.
From... Daddy?
Aw. Okay.
Oh, I love this song.
- That's so cute. - That's beautiful.
Ma...
for Christmas.
So I thought...
"You belong on a Tarzan episode, not my TV.
"So take that Zulu dancing jigaboo shit back to Africa
before I hang you from a tree where you should be."
Don't imagine Dick Clark gets many letters like this.
Cost of being black in America.
How often do you receive these death threats?
Not often enough to stop.
Little Richard tonight.
Suddenly, you're the black Dick Clark.
-What changed? -Now that
-is a trade secret, Jean. -Speaking of secrets,
I hear Soul Train season two is on the horizon.
Well, that's news to me, but I'll damn sure take it.
Your wife Delores
played a major role in launching Soul Train Chicago.
-Why didn't she come to L.A.? -Now, Jean, is that something
that Right On! readers really want to hear?
- This is Don. - Don, it's Richie.
I've got a P-R-O-B-L-E-M problem, baby.
Richard, something tells me that you are not in the greenroom.
Greenroom, nah. Green cash call.
My friend, Rose, she's, uh, kicking me out,
and she's keeping my goods if I don't give her 500 bucks.
-And you're short. -Come on,
- you know Richie's good for it. - Richard!
Stop, girl! Yo, woman, stop playing!
Get the heck out of my house!
Where are you? I'll send someone.
706 Hawthorne.
This requires a personal touch-touch, you dig?
- I'm on my way. - No, I'm not kidding with you!
Get out!
Business before beauty, Jean.
-Sorry. -So am I.
I don't have enough material to write a story.
We don't finish today, it doesn't run.
We'll finish after the show. - No can do.
Either take me along, or you can kiss the cover
of Right On! adios.
After you.
All right, we'll call you.
If y'all don't have your five dollars out,
I'm sending you to the back of the line. Next!
My name is Violet Simms. I'm from Leimert Park,
and I'm the newest member of the Soul TrainGang, baby.
Well, damn. Well, I'm-a go ahead
and refund your five dollars now,
because this set can't take another earthquake!
-What do you think you're doing? -Just having a little fun.
-That's all. -So if I mocked you and made you pay for a chance
to get laughed at, you'd think that was fun?
Inside, every one of you. Now.
Break it up, guys. This is not an audition.
Sorry. Hey!
Fine.
I'm sorry about this.
That girl is one nerve away from being done.
Oh, no. You can't fire Flo.
She got mad moves, like James Brown
and Josephine Baker had a baby.
A cute old mean-ass baby.
What's your name?
I'm Violet. Violet Simms.
Well, Violet, I'm Tessa.
And it's not dancing, but your prize for winning today
-is being my assistant, if you want. -Shh-- I do!
This is the most unqualified I ever been for a job.
I accept.
Ah-- stay here.
Enjoy the leather seats.
Excuse me, slim.
-Is this 706 Hawthorne? -Don-Don, it's me.
Richard?
Sorry, cat. I didn't recognize you.
That's exactly what I'm saying.
Rose got me in a hostage mode.
My inner self is locked in that house, honey.
All right, well, let's go find it.
Okay, oh...
Richard, every minute you out here playing games
is costing me, so your girl better figure this shit out.
Oh, no, she's just a friend, Don.
Well, will this friend listen to reason?
If there's a dollar sign attached to that reason,
oh, she'll listen, honey.
Come on.
Hi. Rose, is it?
-Don Cornelius. -I don't give a shit.
-Of course. -Mm... mm-mm...
Well, Richard tells me he's having trouble
getting his things.
Still don't give a shit.
Hoping you can give a shit now.
Now, did he give a shit
when he lied about putting me on tour?
-Huh? -Mm-mm.
Oh, no? Or how about when he
promised me I could sing backup? You promised me!
So why do you think money
would make me give a shit about this little shit?
Mm...
Richard, why am I thinking that this
is about more than you're letting on?
Don-Don, she is an enigma
wrapped in a secret guarded by a question mark.
She's "wop bop a loo bop a lop" cuckoo!
You smell that?
Oh, Jesus! Woo, my clothes!
Oh, sweet Jesus, not my clothes!
No, no, no, no, no. Richard, Richard, Richard.
Itsy bitsy Little Richard.
You a liar. Now say good-bye!
-No, no. No. -No, no! Not the kimono! -Say good-bye!
Leaves your hair silky, shining, touchable...
Thanks, Ma Mable.
If you see JT,
let him know that the table is reserved
in his name. He'll know what it means.
Nope, that's it. Thank you.
Okay, bye.
Going somewhere?
None of your business.
So JT's not coming by after all.
I thought you liked JT. Why you always cracking him?
JT's cool. Just don't want him dating my little sister.
You can do better.
Mama said the same thing about Victoria and you didn't listen.
And I should've.
Look...
JT's a follower.
He'll either land in jail like his dad
or on junk like his mom.
Either way, you end up hurt.
Hi.
Oh, that's nice.
It's Aretha Franklin.
We know the answer.
We just make it look right, girl.
Oh.
Don't worry, we're not rolling sound.
These are reshoots.
The dancers messed up the scramble board last show,
we had to redo it.
Wait, so they already know the answers? Isn't that cheating?
"I don't want the world thinking our dancers
are ignorant Negroes."
The words of Mr. Don Cornelius.
He got this one right.
Yeah, he did. That makes sense.
You file that paperwork?
Yeah, and I updated your calendar,
and I fixed the drawer on your desk.
I mean, I know you didn't ask, but I had to.
Well, I got plenty of errands,
but I think you deserve more independent study.
All right. I'll keep my big mouth shut.
Okay, let's go. And we're cut.
-Mm. Watch your arms. -Oh!
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
-And cut! -And we're cut.
- The cut guy. - She's an idiot.
Oh, the light guy.
So I heard you're Tessa's new gopher.
That's a big step up, girl.
Yup. Thank you.
-Would you mind if I got your autograph? -Sure.
All right.
Make it out to Flo,
and sign it "Fat Alberta."
-Fat Alberta. -That's a good one.
- Hey, hey, hey, y'all. It's... - Fat Alberta!
Fat Alberta! Fat Alberta!
Fat Alberta. Hey...
That was a good one.
I didn't know silk burned like that.
Richard, let's get out of here. I got racks of wardrobe on set.
I am the best-looking man in show business.
I'm not going on stage in your hand-me-downs.
As long as those cameras roll in 45 minutes,
I don't give a damn if you go on butt-ass naked.
Oh! You're so tutti frutti, Don.
I know, I know.
Wait in the car,
but seems like you can use my feminine expertise.
You want to talk to her?
I have a way of getting answers from reluctant subjects.
Excuse me, who are you, baby girl?
She... is who's gonna get the rest of your shit back
so I can stop bleeding money out here in the Twilight Zone.
And you're gonna owe me, Don.
Ooh! That's what Rose said to me.
No, no, no, no, no.
I can't find my ring, Don. I c-- I can't find my ring!
Rose?
- Oh! - Hello, Rose?
-Can I come in? -Rose ain't so mad at me.
She knows I can't go on stage without Colleen.
-You named your ring Colleen? -You get it back,
I get my ass directly on your train, swear to the Almighty.
It's in the bedside table, top drawer.
Let me get this straight.
-You want me to go in there? -Mm-hmm.
-With her? -Yes, Jesus.
-To get a ring? -It's not just a ring, Don.
It's Colleen.
Go ahead.
Good luck, Don.
Yes. She's fast.
Cover up your bits.
Ms. Fawcett?
It's the cat's pajamas, man.
Ran into Wilt the Stilt in the lounge.
Slipped me five large against Ali.
Add it to the count.
And get a bottle of Dom to Farrah Fawcett.
And help her fine ass to another table.
She cluttering up Herschel's seat.
- Oh, look at you, baby girl. - Zero.
-Not a smidge. -You're kidding.
-Mm-mm. -You peaked, Sis.
Looks perfect to me.
I need the facilities.
Happy birthday, Simone.
Something on your mind, son?
I'm just wondering how long you think
Private Barker's gonna be using our toilet.
He'll be moving on when the time's right.
It just don't look right, Mama.
All of a sudden you're concerned about what things look like?
The man's down on his luck. We owe it to him to help.
Something going on between you two?
How dare you say that to me?
You wondered the same thing about me and JT.
I'll get out of the way.
Yo. Why you wearing my dad's shirt?
Oh, I just found it laying in the garage is all.
Kendall, he didn't know.
Yeah, that's all convenient for someone
who's trying to take Dad's place.
Easy to fix. Real easy to fix. Look.
-Yeah, let me help. -I got it.
Sweetie, don't do that.
Don't. No! Stop it!
-What are you doing? Stop! -Stop it!
I'm sorry. I understand.
You see that?
That's what you brought into our home.
What the hell were you thinking?
Here you go, Ms. Tessa.
Oh. Hey, Violet.
That mimeograph machine got an attitude.
You got...
Oh. My allergies.
You wouldn't happen to be allergic
to a certain group of dancers?
No.
Hey, come with me.
Can you keep a secret?
Violet Simms, professional secret keeper.
Mm-hmm.
Aw.
-This you? -Even my teachers
called me "Two-Ton Tessa."
Then I fell in love with dance.
The weight fell off, my confidence soared,
and I never looked back.
Don't let those girls define who you are.
Look, I may be a little down,
and I have a few more pounds on me than I got need for,
but you got it wrong, Ms. Tessa. This is the best day of my life.
You know, my mom
always said, "Jump and a net will appear."
She was right.
Today, I jumped,
and I landed smack dab in the middle of Soul Train.
- Come on. - Okay. So...
you ready to take another leap?
Biggest payday of our lives right here.
-Only if Ali wins. -Oh, he gonna win.
-Not even Jimmie showed up? -Nah.
Eddie?
Ain't seen him neither.
Put another guard on this money.
- You know, men are dogs. - Yes.
And sneaky.
-Exactly, just... -Mm!
-So dishonest! -Yes, yes. And...
Exactly, how he just
boldface lied to me
-about putting me on his tour. -Yes.
Hand caught in the cookie jar.
You've got a lot of layers, Don.
I am just talking to the most wonderful woman.
Rose is on the phone. She thinks I'm offering
-terms of surrender to Richard. -So, why aren't you?
- 'Cause I smell a story. - I'll let you talk to her
right now. Jean!
Hey, Jean!
Look, I don't know where she went,
but I'll tell you all about it later.
It is out of sight. All right, bye.
Jean? Jean, where'd you go, baby?
I just told my mama I'm in the band.
Jean?
Huh...
Oof.
Hide.
Go, go, go. Get in the tub.
-Oh, you're gonna burn in hell now! -Go, go, go!
Okay. Rose, Rose!
Mm-hmm.
I'm-I'm gonna help you...
So is Colleen what you call the ring?
Or what you keep inside of it?
Don, you sly devil.
-Just-- wait, wait, just... -This is some medicine
-for my nerves. -Hmm.
But people can see you, Richard.
You're getting sloppy.
Nobody starts off sloppy, Don.
You remember that when you get here.
We should go. Rose called the cops.
Ah, Rose loves me.
-Ugh! -Friends till the end. Just like us,
-Donny Boy. -Oh, we ain't friends, Richard,
and your ass is playing for free tonight.
Get the hell out of here. I should kill y'all.
Rose-- ow! Baby, stop playing!
- Come on! - I love you!
I love you too, baby. Have a good show.
I told you she loves me.
Huh? Bye!
Baby, I'm so sorry.
Is your friend still here?
He stepped out.
But he's coming back.
I'm not sorry for what I said to Nate.
But I am sorry for what I said to you.
-Kendall... -And I'm not sorry for how I feel.
I can't explain it,
but there's a reason why Nate's here.
When he's around, it's like your father's still with us.
-So you're choosing him? -No.
I'm asking you to be patient.
All of this will work out.
When Simone and I get back from the bus tour,
if he's here...
I won't be.
Marlo Taylor, private dick.
Who sent you? Hmm?
Who sent you?
Who the hell sent you?!
Let me run this. I'll make you shine.
Someone's gonna spill the dirt on Richard.
May as well be me.
Okay, let's set professional integrity aside
and just talk responsibility.
The man is an icon.
He's done more for the image of our people
than me and you times ten.
We highlight our heroes' worst traits,
we won't have any heroes left.
Or should I take that little pad out your bag...
and burn it?
You're right.
Everything that I learned about Richard is off-limits.
Break a leg, Mr. Cornelius.
And we're back in five, four, three...
Ladies and gentlemen, we're very proud
to welcome aboard the Soul Train
one of soul music's greatest contributors,
the king of rock and roll, Little Richard.
Yes.
Got to be Herschel's guy.
Don't nobody step like this without his saying.
You ain't wrong.
We got two options, both bad.
Hit back is suicide.
We don't, we're done.
Stuff this scumbag in my trunk.
Hey, Curtis, come on in here, help me out.
All right, how do I look?
Beautiful.
Flo.
Let her dance.
No. No, no, no. No.
Ah, Don, cancel your plans. We're going out.
-I can't, George. -Not my invitation.
Dick Clark called. A sit-down, tonight.
-A sit-down? -Mm-hmm.
Dick Clark?
So this is business?
Musso & Frank. One hour.
Exactly what the hell do you think you're doing?
Just spreading the net, Don.
-You know this will never make the final cut. -I know.
You also know that this wasted time is coming
-out of your check. -I know that, too.
And this little stunt is worth it?
Remembering who I am, remembering...
that I have a dream,
and doing everything I possibly can
to make that dream come true...
I quit, Don.
Quit?
You can't quit. Look, we have the bus tour coming up
and what about the dance competition that you planned?
You'll find a way.
Ah, gentlemen.
Please.
I hope this wasn't too short notice.
Oh, not at all. We just left set.
Had Little Richard on today.
Oh. Richard's wonderful.
You know, the Beatles opened for Little Richard in London.
Long before they had a record album. That's vision.
And if there's one thing that you know,
it's vision, Mr. Clark.
Thank you, Don.
But it's your vision I'm most impressed with.
Giving the world something it didn't know it needed.
Soul Train is a stroke of genius.
Thank you.
And I want to be partners.
So what you're saying is that you want us to work for you.
What I'm saying is I want to expand Soul Train
from 14 cities to 400.
I want us international in a year.
I don't want anyone in your family
to ever have to worry about money again.
I want to buy Soul Train.
What do you see, George?
I see an offer to sell out.
And I suspect it's a good one?
I'll let you be the judge of that.
Excuse me for one minute.
I'm gonna say hello to some old friends.
What do you think?
I think he knows what he's doing.
I'm rich, Don.
And you're not.
But this check could change your life,
give Delores everything you promised.
And you'll still have Soul Train.
So? Partners?
You know, this morning,
George and I got into our first argument.
Over a commercial, of all things.
But it reminded me of why
we do this show.
We can't sell you Soul Train, Mr. Clark.
Because it is not ours to sell.
It belongs to Pammy,
our makeup girl, whose parents were sharecroppers.
And Benny, our stage manager
who drove a cab for years waiting for his big shot.
It belongs to every black man, woman and child
who ever dreamt that they could be more
than they were told that they are.
So, no, Mr. Clark,
we cannot sell you Soul Train.
You're turning down $5 million
and a 25% stake in perpetuity?
Stay for dinner, have some cigars, it's on me.
Well, he wouldn't have made this move
if he didn't have a backup plan in motion.
This ain't over.
-He's coming for us. -Both guns blazing.
You do know what this means, right?
We are sitting on a gold mine.
Thank you. Thank you, Dugan's.
Uh, this song's for anyone who's ever been in love.
Right this way, sir.
Don.
What are you doing here?
Well, I figured since...
you missed the fight,
-we could go a few rounds. -Hmm.
You can't...
just stop by like this.
You have company.
It's just an old friend.
It's nothing serious.
You're good, right?
Absolutely.
Everything's cool.
Hey.
This...
it's fun, right?
When you get back from the tour,
we'll spend some time together.
Right.
Good night, Ilsa.
Good night.
Thank you, thank you.
I have a confession.
Today's my birthday.
21, y'all. 21.
Couldn't imagine being anywhere else.
Or with anyone else.
Thank you.
Twenty-one.
Time does fly.
Yes, it does.
You were incredible.
You don't know how much that means.
Listen...
I got a producer friend. Off-Broadway.
Always thought I'd bring this up closer to graduation, but...
-since you're 21 now... -So...
buy me a drink.
Let's talk.
Delivery...
for Herschel.
There's that left.
- That left gonna get him.
Champ gon' get this.
Get him, Champ.
Come on, Champ. Left, right.
Come on, Champ.
What round?
12th round.
- Champ about to take his ass down. Hmm.
You know...
the Gerald I knew...
would've killed me for trying to take him out.
Yeah, well, the Herschel I knew would've never missed.
Well, I guess we're slipping in our old age.
Gun's always there if you want war.
But this makes me your top earner.
You ever miss Memphis?
No.
I brought Memphis with me.
No hard feelings.
Never is.
Take this.
-Take care of Marlo. -Come on, Herschel.
Come on, Herschel!
Oh!
Yeah!
Don't make me regret that second drink.
-I can take it. -Uh-huh.
I'm serious.
About New York.
You are talented.
It's worth a shot.
You really think I'm that good?
I do.
How good?
Uh... I'll get you a cab.
Where are you going?
Out of the way.
I don't think that's a good idea.
If you knew who I was, you'd want me gone.
I've been giving people what I thought
they wanted my whole life. Don't you do the same.
I want you here.
Don't tell me different.
In Vietnam...
I ran away from my platoon.
The enemy crept up on us,
we had cover.
All I had to do was be still.
- Barker. - I should be dead.
I'm a coward. That's who I am.
You want to know where I was headed the day I met you?
I was coming here to tell Sergeant Clarke the truth.
Then I was going to swim into the Pacific until I gave out.
Sink right to the center of the earth.
Make it right with God.
Couldn't even finish that mission.
Your sins are no worse than mine,
and I've lived with mine a long time.
I know it's feeding the racial stereotype,
but... damn it,
this fried chicken is delicious.
Well, I've been saying the same thing
-for years. -Mm.
I won't eat it in front of white folk, though.
-Mm-mm. -Mm.
Yeah, but... manna from Heaven.
So, what you gonna do now?
I'm-a try these fried apple pies.
So who won the fight?
Ali. Wasn't even close.
Never doubt the Champ.
Soul Train.
How big you think it'll be?
Bigger than my wildest dreams.
It must be nice to have a dream.
I usually do the next thing in front of me.
Think I could get an office on set?
Yeah.
Yeah, I can make that happen.
-Next time on American Soul... -Red, I'm home!
Ah! Oh, Don.
- You said that a show called Soul Train would never work.
Boy, was I wrong.
You suing me, Phil?
Who the hell is Ilsa Dejarnette?
Well, what are two future gold album recording stars
doing in the middle of Hickville?
These boys'll chew 'em up
and spit them out if they saw.
That your Chevy Nova out there? I've been looking
for that car for a long time, Mr. Tucker.
Back up! Get back! Back up!
You people never listen.
Look, Daddy.