(Universal fanfare music)
(bluesy rock music)
(drum beating nearby)
♪ Kiss me honey honey kiss me ♪
♪ Thrill me honey honey thrill me ♪
♪ I don't care if I blow my top ♪
♪ But honey honey don't stop ♪
♪ Don't stop ♪
♪ I'd like to play a little game with you ♪
♪ A little game especially made for two ♪
♪ Made for two ♪
♪ If you come close then I will show you how ♪
♪ Closer closer now ♪
♪ Kiss me honey honey kiss me ♪
♪ Thrill me honey honey thrill me ♪
♪ Thrill me ♪
♪ I don't even care if I blow my top ♪
♪ But honey honey don't stop ♪
♪ Don't stop ♪
Hey, you!
It's not me, mate, it's him.
Yeah, but you'll do.
♪ So settle down and let me teach you how ♪
You, fuck off.
♪ Closer closer now ♪
What's this?
It's nothing.
Call that nothing?
What do you call it?
Filth.
Oh, no, no, that's not filthy, that's art.
Says this is art.
You call that art?
Yeah, well...
That's Nancy.
That's my girl.
♪ Don't stop ♪
That's your girl?
No, never.
She'd never throw herself away on shite like you.
What did he say?
He says you're too fucking ugly.
(crashing)
(glass shatters)
♪ But honey honey don't stop ♪
(crowd clamoring)
♪ You kiss so well my lips being to burn ♪
Come quit, let's get out.
♪ And I can tell you've got a lot to learn ♪
Where's he gone?
He's over there on the right.
♪ Show me how ♪
Over there, come on!
♪ Closer closer now ♪
♪ Kiss me hon ♪
(singing nearby)
(both laughing)
All right, lads, a joke's a joke, you know.
Well, here's another joke.
See if you get a laugh out of this.
Go!
(men grunting)
(thudding)
Get off, you bastard!
(groaning)
(kicks landing)
Leave it, will you?
Leave it!
I'll fucking kill you!
(crashes wall)
(coughing)
You fucking killed him!
(blow landing)
(straining)
I'll kill you!
I'll kill all of you!
Oh yeah?
Well, that'll learn you.
I'm gonna bring a crew down here!
I'm gonna bring a crew down here and
they'll kick the shite out of you!
[Man] Nancy boy!
[Man] Yeah, go on!
Bastards!
[Man] Go on, fuck off!
You're all shite, the lot of ya!
(tense music)
(coughing)
You all right, Stu?
How do I look?
Put it this way.
You'll get better.
I'll always be ugly.
(tense music)
(children chattering)
("Chocolate Drop" by Howlin' Wolf)
♪ I've got a woman ♪
♪ They call her chocolate drop ♪
♪ I've got a woman ♪
♪ They call her chocolate drop ♪
♪ Once she's started lovin' ♪
♪ Oh she just won't stop ♪
Good.
♪ I've got a bright woman ♪
You call that art?
It doesn't look at bit like me.
It's not finished.
It doesn't look like anything.
♪ I've got a bright woman ♪
♪ Sweet as she can be ♪
Stop it.
Stop it, I said, before I get cross.
Look at you, you're a bloody mess.
What?
Cream tea, anybody?
Ask him what he thinks.
What do you think, John?
[Woman] Does that look like me?
Well.
Does it?
You got the tits right.
You shag her?
There's more to life than shagging Celia.
Sabrina.
I mean, 'cause I'll shag her for you, you know.
Don't be too shy to ask.
That's what friends are for.
What do you think?
Do you want the truth?
Please.
Hanging's too good for it.
50 guineas.
[Stu] That's cheap.
[John] Hey, don't let it go to your head.
It might be 10 years before you sell another one.
Van Gogh never sold a picture in his life.
50 fucking guineas.
Yes!
I like the blonde, but I prefer the brunette.
Yeah, but blondes have more fun.
Who says?
Swedes.
[Stu] It's got to look good.
You'll get her for 50, you know.
(train chugging nearby)
(bells tolling)
[John] Liverpool.
Home of...
[Stu] Liverpudlians.
[John] You know what I like about Liverpool,
Mr. Sutcliffe?
[ Stu] No, what is it you like about Liverpool,
Mr. Lennon?
I was hoping you'd tell me.
I know what Arthur's gonna say.
He's gonna say, "I gave you chance.
"I put a brush in your hand.
"I went out on a limb for you
"and you're gonna toss it away
"to go and play bass in John Lennon's skiffle band."
It's not a skiffle band.
He's gonna say...
It's a rock and roll band.
"I opened the doors for you..."
It's not my band.
[Stu] Yeah, that's what he'll say.
It's a group.
We're a group.
We're in it together.
He's gonna shit himself.
I like Arthur.
You know, he's all right.
But he thinks art's something you gotta
hang on the wall in a pool of light.
It's a disease with him.
He thinks it's all about Van Gogh.
Ah, nothing wrong with Van Gogh.
Oh, no, I had a word with Van Gogh.
Did ya?
Bumped into him the other night in The Grapes.
Yeah?
Yeah.
I said, "Vincent, mate, where did it all go wrong?"
You know what he said?
Been meaning to tell you this.
No, what did he say?
He said, "If I could do it all again,
"I'd be up there shaking me bum
"doing Blue Suede Shoes.
"It's all dick," that's what he said.
I gave him your regards.
[Stu] Ah, thanks.
You're a painter, Stu.
You are the best I've got.
I'm coming back.
And it's a pisser to throw it away, man
I'm not throwing anything away.
You know, you could teach me a damn sight more
than I could ever teach you.
Arthur, I'm 19 years old.
I've got me whole life.
And where's it gonna get you?
Hamburg for a start.
(whistles) Take it easy, mate.
Get it up there.
Hey.
It's a bit rough out there.
Ah, it's nothing, that, mate.
Bit of a swell, that's all.
You call that a swell?
I call it mother's milk.
My dad was a sailor and his dad before him.
I'm the son of a son of a sailor.
Bollocks.
[George] Mum, Mum!
Here.
What is it?
Scones.
Scones!
I've made you some scones.
Mum, they've got food on the ferry, you know.
I know.
They haven't got my scones.
I can't take scones.
If the lads knew you'd given me scones
I'll never hear the end of it.
I'm in a rock and roll group, Mum.
(sighs)
So have you ever been abroad before?
Overseas, like.
Oh, aye, yeah.
Yeah, I've been to the Isle of Wight.
I'll write.
You'd better.
Oh, every day.
Every minute, every second.
Now and then would be a start.
Oh, you're a tough negotiator, Miss Powell.
[Paul] Come on, George, we're starving.
There's food on the ferry.
Where are those lovely little scones your mother made?
All right, lads.
See you soon.
(ship horn blows)
Shall we?
Is that right, pal?
You did say your father was a sailor?
(John retches)
You did say the sea was in your blood, didn't you?
Sorry, I missed that.
I said...
(John retches)
Oh, ugh!
You horrible filth.
I do believe I'm feeling a shade better now,
cap'n, thank you.
But I do believe the captain's trod on me parrot, sir.
Arr, arr.
(John retches)
(Paul chuckles)
("Bright Lights Big City" by Jimmy Reed)
♪ Bright lights big city ♪
Hey, look, look, look.
♪ Has gone to my baby's head ♪
♪ Oh bright lights big city ♪
♪ Gone to my baby's head ♪
♪ I tried to tell the woman ♪
♪ But she don't believe a word I said ♪
♪ Go light pretty baby ♪
♪ You'll need my help some day oh ♪
♪ It's all right pretty baby ♪
(car horn honks)
♪ You're gonna need my help someday ♪
♪ You're gonna wish you had listened ♪
(people chattering)
Fuckin' hell.
Wow.
It's only temporary.
Temporary.
Well, what do you want for nothing?
You top ten yet?
You haven't done nothing yet.
People have died in here.
You can smell 'em.
Whole families.
This is them?
This is them.
Yeah, we're them.
This is Bruno.
You are how old?
18.
Everything's cool.
Everyone's 18.
18 in February.
(crowd chattering)
All right, lads, this is it.
Remember the song.
[Paul] What's the song? (chuckles)
(bluesy music)
(audience cheering)
(whistling and clapping)
(booing and hissing)
Good evening, ladies and genitals, we're the band.
You'll be happy to know we keep our clothes on.
On drums is Mr. Pete Best.
On guitar, Mr. Paul McCartney.
On bass, recently arrived from the dark side of the moon,
Mr. Stuart Sutcliffe.
And on guitar, Mr. George Harrison,
he's only just on solid food.
My name's Lennon, John Winston Lennon.
I was named after Churchill.
John Churchill, the wet fish man.
Me parents were thinking of calling me
after me father, but Dad's such a
stupid fucking name, don't you think?
So if you'd all like to line up and tell us your names.
(sailor laughing)
Thank you, brother.
One, two, three, four!
("Good Golly, Miss Molly")
♪ Good golly Miss Molly ♪
♪ Sure likes to ball ♪
♪ Good golly Miss Molly ♪
♪ Sure likes to ball ♪
♪ When you're rockin' and a rollin' ♪
♪ Can't hear your mama call ♪
♪ From the early early mornin' ♪
♪ To the early early night ♪
♪ You can see Miss Molly at the house of blue light ♪
♪ Good golly Miss Molly sure likes to ball ♪
♪ When you're rockin' and a rollin' ♪
♪ Can't hear your mama call ♪
♪ Mama papa told me son you better watch yourself ♪
♪ If he knew about Miss Molly have to watch my pa myself ♪
♪ Good golly Miss Molly ♪
♪ Sure likes to ball ♪
♪ When you're rockin' and a rollin' ♪
♪ Can't hear your mama call ♪
♪ Good golly Miss Molly ♪
♪ Sure likes to ball ♪
♪ Good golly Miss Molly ♪
♪ Sure likes to ball ♪
♪ When you're rockin' and a rollin' ♪
♪ Can't hear your mama call ♪
♪ Going to the corner gonna buy a diamond ring ♪
♪ When she hugged me and she kissed me ♪
♪ Made me ting-a-ling-a-ling ♪
♪ Good golly Miss Molly ♪
♪ Sure likes to ball ♪
♪ When you're rockin' and a rollin' ♪
♪ Can't hear your mama call ♪
(girl moaning)
(bed rattling)
Sutcliffe?
Not now, John.
Tell all our listeners out there
how are you finding it here in Hamburg?
(girl moaning)
You are not cold?
Cold, me, no.
I don't feel cold.
(woman moaning)
You um, don't want to go inside?
I'd sooner freeze.
(woman moaning)
So, Sutcliffe.
I know all our listeners will want to ask you this.
Are you glad you came? (chuckles)
You make the right choice?
("Carol")
♪ Oh Carol ♪
(cheering)
♪ Don't let him steal your heart away ♪
♪ I'm gonna learn to dance ♪
♪ If it takes me all night and day ♪
(cheering)
♪ Well if you wanna hear some music ♪
♪ Like the boys are playin' ♪
♪ Hold tight pat your foot ♪
♪ Don't let 'em carry away ♪
♪ Don't let the heat overcome you ♪
♪ When they play so loud ♪
(cheering)
♪ Well let the music intrigue you when they get a crowd ♪
♪ If you can't dance I know that you wish you could ♪
♪ I got my eyes on you baby 'cause you dance so good ♪
(audience applauding)
("I Remember You")
♪ I remember too a distant bell ♪
♪ And the stars that fell ♪
♪ Like the rain out of the blue ♪
♪ When my life is through ♪
♪ And the angels ask me to recall ♪
Hey!
What you doing?
(table crashes)
(switchblade clicks)
Listen, you.
You want to fight somebody, fight me.
If you don't want to fight,
then listen to the fucking band.
If you don't want to listen to the fucking band,
fuck off and choke to death.
Do you understand me?
Get me meaning, mate?
I can't fight you.
You're wearing a dress.
(crowd laughs)
(men chattering)
All right, here's a slow one
for all you lovebirds out there.
("20 Flight Rock")
♪ Well I got a gal with a record machine ♪
♪ Comes to lovin' she's the queen ♪
♪ We love to dance on a Saturday night ♪
♪ All alone where I can hold her tight ♪
♪ She lives on the twentieth floor uptown ♪
♪ The elevator's broken down ♪
♪ So I walk one two flight three flight four ♪
♪ Five six seven flight eight flight more ♪
♪ Up to the twelfth I'm starting to drag ♪
♪ Fifteenth floor I'm ready to sag ♪
♪ Get to the top I'm too tired to rock ♪
♪ Well, she called me up on the telephone ♪
♪ Come over baby I'm all alone ♪
♪ I said baby you're mighty sweet ♪
♪ But I'm in bed with achin' feet ♪
♪ This went on for a couple of days ♪
♪ But I could not stay away ♪
♪ So I walked one two flight three flight four ♪
♪ Fix six seven flight eight flight more ♪
♪ Up to the twelfth I'm starting to drag ♪
♪ Fifteenth floor I'm ready to sag ♪
♪ Get to the top I'm too tired to rock ♪
[Barkeep] That's 7.50.
My name is Klaus.
- Cheers. - Cheers, Klaus.
Sounds German.
What are you doing over here, Klaus?
I liked your show, you had fun.
Fun?
You call that fun?
What do you call it?
I call it three days and nights without sleep, mate,
I call it too long between drinks.
I call it dying for a piss.
I call it a hard fuckin' day's night.
Is he always like this?
Oh, you'd be surprised.
We are quite bitter and twisted.
What's the problem, Paul?
It's about Stu.
Yeah, well, what about Stu?
He just stands there.
Paul, I know you can play bass better than he can,
we all know that.
But what Stu plays is just right.
It's rock and roll.
He's the greatest rock and roller there is.
Listen, I know he's great.
But all he does is stand there.
It's the way he stands.
English!
No.
Showtime!
Come on, Bruno, have a heart, we're knackered.
One o'clock.
Showtime.
Just look at us.
I mean, look at George, he's dead on his feet.
Look at Pete, his hands are fucked.
Look at me.
I'm knackered, I'm a shadow of meself.
I haven't eaten in a week.
Here.
I was thinking more along the lines of a steak.
♪ Saw Uncle John with Long Tall Sally ♪
♪ He saw Aunt Mary comin' and he ducked back in the alley ♪
♪ Oh baby ♪
♪ Yeah baby ♪
♪ Ooh baby ♪
♪ Some fun tonight whoa ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Well Long Tall Sally she's ♪
♪ Built for speed she got ♪
♪ Everything that Uncle John needs ♪
♪ Oh baby ♪
♪ Yeah baby ♪
♪ Ooh baby ♪
♪ Some fun tonight yeah ♪
♪ We're gonna have some fun tonight ♪
♪ Have some fun tonight ♪
♪ Everything's all right ♪
♪ Have some fun ♪
♪ Some yeah yeah yeah ♪
(knocking)
I can't sleep.
Me neither.
That's much better.
All the difference.
Mm.
(motor revving)
("Rock N Roll Music")
♪ If you wanna dance with me ♪
♪ I took my loved one over 'cross the tracks ♪
♪ So she could hear my main a-wailin' sax ♪
♪ I must admit they had a rockin' band ♪
♪ Man they were blowin' like a hurricane ♪
♪ That's why I go for that rock and roll music ♪
♪ Any old way you choose it ♪
♪ It's got a backbeat you can't lose it ♪
♪ Any old time you use it ♪
♪ It's gotta be rock and roll music ♪
♪ If you wanna dance with me ♪
♪ Way down south they gave a jubilee ♪
♪ The Georgia folk they had a jamboree ♪
♪ They're drinking homebrew from a wooden cup ♪
♪ The folks dancin' got all shook up ♪
♪ They started playing that rock and roll music ♪
♪ Any old time you use it ♪
♪ It's got a backbeat you can't lose it ♪
♪ Any old time you use it ♪
♪ Gotta be rock and roll music ♪
(speaking foreign language)
♪ If you wanna dance with me ♪
♪ Don't care to hear 'em play the tango ♪
♪ I'm in no mood to hear a mambo ♪
(speaking foreign language)
♪ So keep rockin' that piano ♪
♪ That's why I go for that rock and roll music ♪
♪ Any old time you use it ♪
♪ It's got a backbeat you can't lose it ♪
♪ Any old time you use it ♪
♪ Gotta be rock and roll music ♪
♪ If you wanna dance with me ♪
(audience applauding)
Stuart, this is Astrid.
Astrid.
Fancy a drink?
Yes.
But not here.
(car doors banging shut)
What's this place?
It's a club.
[Stu] What does Enfer mean?
[Klaus] Hell.
[Stu] Sounds promising.
(jazz music)
Ta.
What do you call that?
Henry.
Paul.
Danke.
(glasses clink)
[Stu] I see your picture.
It's not me.
'Course it is.
It's nothing, I was just doing a test for the lighting.
(patrons chattering)
You don't say much, do you?
Drummers don't talk.
You must have noticed that.
Just might as well be deaf and dumb, drummers.
I mean, when was the last time
you heard a drummer say anything?
See?
You know why, don't you?
I'll tell you why.
'Cause nobody ever fucking listens.
It's all dick.
I could do with another Henry.
It's all dick, all this.
You're just dressed up just to be noticed, don't you?
You just do it to impress, that's all.
Is that so terrible?
Just to be noticed?
It's all bollocks, that.
End of the day it's all down to dick, eh?
So why don't we just fucking say it for a change?
I mean, never mind all the talk,
never mind all the fucking bollocks.
At the end of the day all everybody wants
is a bit of fucking dick.
Is he always like this?
[John] Why don't we just say it, eh?
Why are you doing this?
I mean, a bit of dick never hurt anyone, did it?
Bit of dick never led to war.
[Stu] He thinks you're out of his league.
It's liars that lead to war.
Liars and hypocrites.
He thinks if he tried to pull you you might laugh at him
and that would hurt.
You trying to impress, you all are.
Everybody trying to impress everybody else.
I used to do it, the same thing.
I used to do it when I was about 15.
Yeah.
Yeah?
Yeah, well I've given up trying, mate.
You're never gonna shag her, Stu,
get that into your head right now.
She's here with her fucking boyfriend, you understand?
I don't have to get down on my hands and knees...
and try to impress! - He's sorry he's doing this.
I'm not sorry!
You should be.
I'm telling the truth.
It's the fucking truth, lad!
I'm telling you the truth!
You haven't got the balls to chat her up, John,
so you're having a dig.
That's what it's all about.
That's the fucking truth.
You haven't got the balls because you think
she's out of your league.
That's what hurts, mate, isn't it?
She's out of your fucking league.
♪ Time to go home time to go home ♪
♪ Andy and teddy are waving goodnight ♪
Let's go, come on.
Bollocks, Stu!
Thank you.
Hey, John, slow down.
He's jealous.
You think so?
You hurt his feelings.
He'll get over it.
So did you shag her, then?
She's a photographer.
Klaus designs record covers.
You'll never shag her.
Not her, not Astrid.
Not with all that lot.
You know that, don't you?
You haven't got a hope.
She's a photographer.
You'd like her if you gave yourself the chance.
She wants to take our photograph.
She can photograph my arse, mate.
("Roadrunner")
♪ I'm a roadrunner, honey ♪
♪ Beep beep ♪
(camera snapping)
♪ Beep beep ♪
♪ I'm a roadrunner honey ♪
♪ And you can't keep up with me ♪
♪ I'm a roadrunner honey ♪
♪ And you can't keep up with me ♪
♪ Come on let's race ♪
♪ Baby baby you will see ♪
♪ Here we go ♪
♪ Yeah beep beep ♪
♪ Move on over honey let me by ♪
How do I look?
I would like to invite you to my house.
If you want.
♪ Beep beep ♪
You accept?
I accept.
Then you can see the photographs.
You will see what you look like to me.
♪ Beep beep ♪
(camera snaps)
(jazz music playing)
(doorbell buzzes)
You came.
You asked.
(guests chattering)
This is Mr. Sutcliffe.
[Woman] Ah!
Hello.
Everybody is talking about you.
What are they saying?
They are saying that you are in a band
down on the Reeperbahn.
They say that you are quite fantastic.
Klaus is quite wild about this music.
But he did not tell us that you are so beautiful.
(record scratching)
(funky jazz music)
Is he your boyfriend?
Klaus?
I've known Klaus all my life.
We have been lovers since we were born.
Fuckin' hell.
It's great.
It's fucking great.
(envelope rustling)
(telephone ringing nearby)
Good evening, ladies and genitals.
Right, we're gonna do a little request.
Stu is going to sing youse a song.
Now, we don't normally do requests,
but it's Stu's request and if we don't let him do it,
he'll only wet the bed.
Ta.
("Love Me Tender")
♪ Love me tender ♪
♪ Love me sweet ♪
♪ Never let me go ♪
♪ You have made my life complete ♪
♪ And I love you so ♪
♪ Love me tender ♪
♪ Love me true ♪
♪ All my dreams fulfilled ♪
♪ For my darling I love you ♪
♪ And I always will ♪ (Astrid laughing)
♪ Love me tender love me long ♪
♪ Take me to your heart ♪
Fuck. (spits)
John!
♪ Love me tender ♪
Here.
("Rock 'N' Roll Music")
♪ Just let me hear some of that rock and roll music ♪
Fuck.
He fucked off, didn't he?
He took one look, you know why?
Yeah, I know why.
You know why, don't you?
Yeah, because we were shite.
Because we were shite, that's why.
Because we're supposed to be a rock and roll group,
not a fucking charity show.
Well, fuck him.
Listen, John, this group can't carry Stu.
You know that, don't you?
We're not that good.
You want him out.
That's not,
that's not what I said!
Listen, you.
If Stu goes, I go, do you understand that?
No, you won't.
Did somebody die?
You can't do your solo spot anymore, Stu.
Why's that?
Because it's shite.
Give it to me straight.
Let's not beat around the bush.
(beads clacking)
You happy now?
(distorted chattering in foreign language)
[Astrid] What are you doing here?
I went for a walk.
How long have you been here?
How long?
Actually how long?
Yeah, well you're in front of my house.
How long have you been here?
Not long.
Got lost.
I'm going to a movie, do you want to come?
Sure.
(film playing in foreign language)
(reciting dialogue in foreign language)
I must go.
I'll come with you.
No.
See you to the door.
No.
Why not?
Because I say so.
Too bad.
Tomorrow I'm driving out to the Elbe.
Have you been there?
The Elbe?
You can come if you like.
We can make some photographs.
Do you accept?
You could try twisting me arm.
(rock music)
♪ Have some fun tonight ♪
♪ Yeah have some fun tonight ♪
♪ Have some fun tonight ♪
♪ Have some fun ♪
♪ Some fun tonight ♪
(audience applauding)
Ta, our friend's here.
I went to the pictures.
What you see, anything good?
Very good.
Oh, that's all right, then
'cause I'd hate to waste your fucking time
or anything like that.
Look who's here.
(speaks in foreign language)
[John] Thanks.
[George] Thanks very much.
[Paul] Ta, this is gorgeous.
[Stu] Cheers.
(Stu speaks foreign language)
So, tomorrow we will make a record.
Yes?
- Yeah! - Yeah.
Tomorrow?
You have something better to do? (laughs)
It is a backing record.
Maybe it will not be such a great record,
but it goes round and round.
Oh, it'll be great.
Don't you worry about that.
I don't care what it is.
I don't care if it's Polly Put the fucking Kettle On.
It'll be great because it's us, you see, this band.
It's us.
What he's saying is we'll be there.
Yeah, I'm saying we'll be there.
Oh, yeah, we'll be quite prepared for that eventuality.
Wouldn't we, Paul?
We're gonna be big, Sutcliffe.
You know that, don't you?
I can see it coming.
We're gonna be too big for Hamburg.
We're gonna be too big for Liverpool.
Are you listening to me?
We're gonna be too big for our own bloody good.
(water splashing)
Rise and shine, Tonto.
[Paul] Come on, Stu.
I'm not coming.
I'm ill.
Ill?
You're not ill.
I'm sick, I feel like shite.
Bollocks.
I've bene up all night, John.
Some of us have been looking forward to this.
This is our big break.
Get out of the bed now or we'll do it without ya.
Do it without me, then.
(pail clanging)
All right, then, we will.
And we'll do it a damn sight better and all.
(door bangs shut)
♪ My Bonnie lies over the ocean ♪
♪ My Bonnie lies over the sea ♪
♪ My Bonnie lies over the ocean ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Oh bring back my Bonnie to me ♪
(birds calling)
You're serious about this, aren't you?
Of course.
I'm German.
(Stu laughs)
I should have known.
("My Bonnie" by Tony Sheridan)
♪ My Bonnie lies over the ocean ♪
♪ My Bonnie lies over the sea ♪
♪ Well, my Bonnie lies over the ocean ♪
♪ Yeah bring back my Bonnie to me ♪
♪ Yeah bring back ♪
(bell clanging)
Truth is I'm not much of a bass player.
This whole look, it's all John's idea.
It means the world to him, the band,
making a record.
They'll do it, too, you watch.
And you?
I just came along for a laugh.
A laugh?
See the sights, have a bit of fun.
Make all the pretty girls cry.
♪ Bring back oh bring back my Bonnie to me ♪
(jazzy music)
Astrid.
(Astrid moans)
(both laughing)
(both moaning)
"She was very much half-dressed,
"and big indiscreet trees threw out their leaves
"against the pane: cunningly, and close, quite close."
Premiere Soire it is called.
First Night?
He was 16.
Do with a bit of color in here.
Do with a bit of red.
I like red, a lot of red.
Do you know why they roll out the red carpet
for the King and Queen?
They don't roll out a blue carpet or a green carpet.
It's always red.
And red is the color of the Liverpool football team,
currently struggling in the middle of the second division,
but a super bunch of lads all the same.
You like football?
I like a result.
Klaus.
(Astrid speaking foreign language)
(Klaus speaking foreign language)
(wistful music)
Klaus.
You're wearing my robe.
("Twist and Shout")
♪ Baby now ♪
♪ Shake it up baby ♪
♪ Twist and shout ♪
♪ Come on come on come come on baby now ♪
♪ Come on baby ♪
♪ Come on and work it on out ♪
♪ Work it on out ♪
♪ Ah ah ah ah ♪
Yeah.
Change the key, though.
Sounds all right.
Oh, yeah, yeah, we're clever lads.
Who's this?
Ringo.
[Stu] Ringo?
Yeah, Ringo.
He's a drummer.
He's working up the street.
What's he doing in me bed?
Oh, he's a very sick man.
What's wrong with him?
[John] He can't be moved.
He can't stay there.
Well, I heard you didn't live here anymore.
Where'd you hear that?
I heard you'd moved in with the SS.
[Stu] Leave it.
Leave what?
All the German shite.
All the patronizing German shite.
It's only a joke, Stu.
It's always a joke with you, John, isn't it?
Don't the jokes ever stop?
Don't you ever get tired?
Because if that's what you're doing,
moving in with the SS,
well then don't turn up at the Kaiserkeller tonight.
What are you saying?
(laughs) We've moved up the street.
We're at Top Ten now.
The Top Ten?
Top of the bill.
Great!
("Money")
♪ The best things in life are free ♪
♪ But you can give them to the birds and bees ♪
♪ I need money ♪
♪ That's what I want ♪
♪ Your love give me such a thrill ♪
♪ But your love don't pay my bills ♪
♪ I need money ♪
♪ That's what I want ♪
♪ Wow ♪
♪ Money don't get everything it's true ♪
♪ But what it don't get I can't use ♪
♪ I need money ♪
♪ That's what I want ♪
♪ Give me money ♪
♪ That's what I want ♪
♪ Whole lotta money ♪
♪ That's what I want ♪
♪ Give me money ♪
♪ That's what I want ♪
♪ Lots of money ♪
♪ That's what I want ♪
(audience applauding)
[John] Thank you very much indeed.
(birds singing)
(Astrid speaks foreign language)
What's that?
I love you in German.
Only in German?
Any way you wish.
[John] You've read all these?
[Astrid] Of course not.
No, but you like to read, though, don't you?
You're a big reader.
[Astrid] One or two.
Yeah, a big thinker.
You like all that, don't you, theory?
Sartre and all that lot, Cocteau and all his lot,
all that Left Bank shower.
All those little bohemians sitting round
drinking Chateau Spazzo and listening to Edith Piaf.
You don't like Edith Piaf?
Oh, she's all right, Edith Piaf,
but she's an old woman, isn't she?
She's got one foot in the grave.
I could never love anyone who didn't love Edith Piaf.
You know my theory about art?
Did I ever tell you that?
It's all dick?
Exactly.
I wonder makes you so...
[John] So what?
Such an asshole.
Practice.
You are the angriest person I have ever met.
What makes you so angry?
I'm not angry.
I would like to be your friend.
You would like to be my friend,
but you cannot behave like a friend to me.
You deny me.
You deny yourself.
It helps nobody.
Nobody's any happier.
It's such a waste of time.
Why don't I let you into a little secret,
just between the two of us?
I'm not angry, sister.
I'm fucking desperate.
I think you're jealous.
Jealous?
Oh, yeah, jealous.
Jealous of who?
Jealous of Stu?
Jealous of me.
(loud knocking)
(man speaking foreign language)
Hey, hey, Gestapo.
The police.
(siren blaring)
(door banging open)
Knock, knock.
(man shouting indistinctly)
What's going on, then?
Pontoon.
We're being deported.
(guard speaks foreign language)
He says George is underage.
No, no, no, you can't do that, mate.
You can't do this.
Tell him he can't do this, we're a group.
You're a group?
Tell him!
What?
(cell door bangs shut)
So you're still a group.
You wouldn't pull me leg.
It really is the showers you're taking us to,
isn't it, Mr. Goebbels?
(station PA announcing in foreign language)
You will come back?
I'll write.
I don't like letters.
I'll write anyway.
I have to see your eyes when you talk to me.
You don't have to open them.
You can throw them in a drawer,
when I come back we can open them, have a laugh.
Don't you have something to say to me?
I love you in German.
Only in German?
(Stu speaks foreign language)
Anywhere, anyhow, anytime.
So I give you back. (whistle blowing)
(train whistle blows)
Bye.
I love you
(bluesy music)
[Astrid] "And big indiscreet trees threw out
"their leaves against the pane: cunningly, and close,
"quite close."
I've been reading these poems.
Rimbaud.
He's French.
I know Rimbaud.
You should read them.
A Season in Hell.
He was in a lot of pain.
Should be right up your street.
He was a queer.
He'd fuck anything that threw a shadow.
Sheep, goats.
He was possessed.
That's what Astrid said.
I met a fellow in Hamburg, didn't tell you this.
He was from the art school, his name's Paolozzi.
I let him have a look at some of me stuff,
some of the paintings I was doing.
I'll go and see him when we get back.
What do you mean go and see him?
See if he'll take me on, some kind of grant.
What about the band, Stu?
I've got to get back there, John.
I haven't done a stroke since I left.
Band or no band, I've got to get back there.
She thinks I'm queer, Astrid.
Bollocks.
You heard her.
She thinks I fancy you.
That's not what she said.
What she said was she thinks we love one another.
And what did you say?
I might have grunted. (chuckles)
What's the odds?
It's all dick.
[All] Fifteen!
Sixteen!
Seventeen!
Eighteen!
(crowd cheering)
Is there anyone in the house who can
help this man out with a blow job?
(crowd cheering)
Ta, Cyn.
("Rock N Roll Music")
♪ Well if you wanna hear some music ♪
♪ Like the boys are playin' ♪
♪ Hold tight pat your foot don't let 'em carry away ♪
♪ Don't let the heat overcome you ♪
♪ When you're playing so loud ♪
♪ Well let the music intrigue you when they get a crowd ♪
♪ Well if you can't dance ♪
♪ I know that you wish you could ♪
♪ I got my eyes on you baby 'cause you dance so good ♪
(girls screaming)
(train horn blowing)
(brakes screeching)
Come on, rise and shine, Tonto.
Come on, surf's up!
Hamburgy-burgy-burgy.
(people chattering)
(station PA announcing in foreign language)
Breaks your fucking heart, doesn't it?
(water running)
(birds singing)
I never finished this.
The painting!
Fuck the painting.
(dramatic music)
(Stu chuckles)
(scissors snipping)
Open your eyes.
You've made me look like Klaus.
[Astrid] You don't like it?
(Stu scoffs)
I know what John's gonna say.
Fuckin' hell.
("Slow Down")
♪ Well you know that I love you tell the world that I do ♪
♪ Come on pretty baby why can't you be true ♪
♪ I need your lovin' baby oh so bad ♪
♪ The best little woman that I ever had ♪
♪ Slow down ♪
♪ Baby now you're movin' way too fast ♪
♪ You gotta give me a little loving ♪
♪ Give me a little living ♪
♪ If you want our love to last ♪
(audience applauding)
Yeah, thank you very much.
Are you off?
Pressing engagement, is it?
You're a bit flat.
Flat?
I think it's the E string.
Ask John.
Oh, I'm flat?
Me?
That's it, the finish.
Leave it alone.
Something's gotta be done.
Done?
Look, we can't go on like this, the joke's over.
Half the time he doesn't turn up
and when he does he's in the fifth dimension.
Well, I'm not having it.
It's a waste of fucking time.
I've told you before, Paul, I won't tell you again.
If you kick Stu out of this band I'll go with him.
No, you won't.
You fucking won't and I'll tell you why, sailor,
because you know how good we can be.
Not without me.
And you're not gonna kiss it goodbye.
Oh, just watch me, mate.
What is then?
What is it between you two?
What is it?
Yeah, what's going on?
Are you saying I'm a queer?
Is that what you're saying?
Oh, look.
Are you saying I'm a fucking fairy,
is that what you're saying, Paul?
That's not what I said, that's not what I said.
What is it, that's what you said.
He never said that.
What is it between us, that's what you said!
He never said you were a fairy.
(shouting) For Christ's sake!
Will you just leave it alone?
He spoke.
You can't blame Paul, he's had enough.
You act like you're not interested anymore.
I'm not.
Bollocks.
I'm not gonna play in a rock and roll band
for the rest of me life.
Paul is, you are.
It's what you want.
Found something better, have you?
I'll let you know.
I'm going to find out.
Calls for a drink, eh?
I've gotta go, mate.
Stu, she's just a girl.
All right, she's quite a girl,
she's got a bit of je ne sais fucking quoi.
She swept you off your feet.
At the end of the day she's just another shag.
(Stu scoffs)
She's having a bit of fun with ya.
She's a collector, she hasn't finished with you yet.
She'll get bored.
You don't know her.
She'll get tired and then she'll
throw you back where you came from.
You don't know me very well either.
She'll get rid of you,
she'll finish with you like she did to Klaus.
She's gonna do it to you, too!
She will!
Fuck you!
She'll fucking do it to you!
Oh, fuck you!
(crashing)
Fuck you!
Fuck you.
(tense music)
(exotic music)
(guests speaking foreign language)
He knows War and Peace word by word.
The whole thing?
The whole thing in Russian.
My advice, take two.
What can I say?
You don't need to say anything.
Calls for a drink.
(crowd cheering)
(Astrid laughs)
(crowd cheering)
You can do it.
(Stu groans)
Stuart!
Klaus!
(Klaus speaks foreign language)
(Astrid shouts foreign language)
This has happened to you how many times?
I don't know.
A couple.
I'm in a band.
We play eight days a week.
It can give you a headache.
Hmm.
(doctor speaks foreign language)
(slams table)
A blow to the head.
You have had such a blow?
Who hasn't?
Hmm.
It was the pills, the speed.
I'll lay off the speed.
Yeah, do so, Mr. Sutcliffe.
And also do this:
Slow down.
Take your time.
Life is long.
You must not be in too much of a hurry.
[Astrid] Well?
What did he say?
You want the truth?
Please.
He said I should find a nice German girl
and ask her to marry me.
That's absurd.
(train chugging nearby)
(both laughing)
I think I've got something to offer.
Got a long way to go, I know that.
I'm not trying to pass meself off as something I'm not.
But I want to be a painter.
I want the chance.
(speaking foreign language)
So what do you say?
("Rock N Roll Music")
♪ Just let me hear some of that rock and roll music ♪
♪ Any old way you choose it ♪
♪ It's got a backbeat you can't lose it ♪
♪ Any old time you use it ♪
♪ Gotta be rock and roll music ♪
♪ If you wanna dance with me ♪
I'm in!
Oh!
They said yes!
♪ I got no kick against modern jazz ♪
♪ Unless they try to play it too darn fast ♪
Great news!
Cyn!
Er, Miss Powell to you.
Stu!
I'm in.
The art school said yes.
Bollocks.
("C'etait Un Jour De Fete" by Edith Piaf)
Who's that?
That's that old Edith Piaf.
Up here.
I don't want a lot.
The usual things.
I'd like a house.
I'd like babies.
But all I really want is John.
He's all I've ever wanted.
John wants the world.
(fire crackling)
(metal clanking)
That's it.
- Yes! - Yeah!
She wants babies.
I know.
She thinks you're going to marry her.
I am.
She's lucky.
Do you think so?
(gentle music)
(drink pouring)
(glasses clinking)
Yuck.
It's rum.
That's what sailors drink.
I'm a sailor.
I'm the son of a sailor.
I'm the son of a sailor's son.
Tell me something, John Lennon.
When you are rich and famous,
when you are number one, when your name is in lights
and everybody wants to be your friend,
when somebody asks you do you remember Astrid in Hamburg,
what will you say?
I'll say she was the girl I always wanted.
The girl of me dreams.
Like Brigitte Bardot with better manners.
I might have fallen in love with her,
but she fell in love with me best friend
and that was the end of that.
I love him, John.
I do.
Yeah.
Don't we all?
(wind rushing)
Paul can play bass.
Paul can play bass a lot better than I can.
He can sing a lot better, too.
He's a bit flat, you know.
You don't need me, John.
You never did.
Yeah, but it was our band, wasn't it?
You and me, Stu.
No.
It was your band, yours and Paul's.
We're going to be big, you know that, don't you?
You'll miss it, Stu.
You're going to kick yourself.
We've got them by the throat, Stu.
You're going to be here in Hamburg.
It's what I want.
It's where I want to be.
There goes Stuart Sutcliffe.
That's what they'll say.
He could have been in the Beatles.
There goes Stu Stutcliffe.
He fell in love with a German girl.
He could have been in the Beatles,
but he never really learned how to play.
(Stu whooping)
(Astrid laughing)
("Please Mr. Postman")
♪ Wait ♪
♪ Oh yes wait a minute Mr. Postman ♪
♪ Wait ♪
♪ Wait Mr. Postman ♪
♪ Mr. Postman look and see ♪
♪ Oh yeah ♪
♪ Is there a letter in your bag for me ♪
♪ Please please Mr. Postman ♪
♪ I've been waiting a long long time ♪
♪ Oh yeah ♪
♪ Since I heard from that girl of mine ♪
♪ There must be some word today ♪
♪ From my girlfriend so far away ♪
♪ Please Mr. Postman look and see ♪
♪ If there's a letter a letter for me ♪
♪ I've been standing here waiting Mr. Postman ♪
♪ So patiently ♪
♪ For just a card or just a letter ♪
♪ Saying she'll be coming home to me ♪
♪ Please Mr. Postman ♪
♪ Mr. Postman look and see ♪
♪ Oh yeah ♪
♪ Is there a letter in your bag for me ♪
♪ Please please Mr. Postman ♪
♪ I've been waiting a long long time ♪
♪ Oh yeah ♪
They were right.
♪ So many days you pass me by ♪
I give you back.
♪ See the tears standing in my eye ♪
♪ You didn't stop to make me feel better ♪
But only for tonight.
♪ By leaving me a card or a letter ♪
♪ Mr. Postman ♪
♪ Mr. Postman look and see ♪
♪ Is there a letter in your bag for me ♪
♪ I've been waiting such a long time ♪
♪ Since I heard from that girlfriend of mine ♪
♪ You gotta wait a minute wait a minute oh yeah ♪
♪ Mr. Postman wait a minute wait a minute ♪
♪ Please Mr. Postman ♪
♪ Wait a minute wait a minute Mr. Postman ♪
♪ Deliver the letter the soon the better ♪
♪ You gotta wait a minute wait a minute ♪
♪ Please Mr. Postman ♪
♪ Wait a minute wait a minute Mr. Postman ♪
♪ Whoa yeah ♪
♪ Wait a minute wait a minute Mr. Postman ♪
(audience applausing)
Thank you very much.
All right.
(car horn honks)
Bollocks!
See you then, Stu.
Paul.
Hope it all works out.
I bet it will, you know what you're doing.
I do.
We're gonna miss you, you know.
Ah, you're well off.
Listen, whatever I said, I never meant it.
Don't pay any attention to it.
Never did, mate.
Take care.
Good luck.
I'll say hello to Elvis for you.
I'll give him your regards.
Right.
Take care, huh?
You, too.
Pete.
George, bye.
[George] All the best, Stu.
Take care of yourself, Stu.
Good luck.
See you later, mate.
Knock 'em dead.
Auf Wiedersehen.
(newsreader speaking foreign language)
What's he doing here?
Stuart, something terrible has happened.
What's he doing here?
He's drunk.
John said it, he fucking said it.
You'd do it to Klaus, you'll do it to me!
You're making a mistake.
Fuck you!
(crashing)
I said fuck you!
Fuck you!
[Astrid] Stuart!
Fuck you!
(men grunting)
Get up!
Stuart, stop it!
(Astrid gasps)
(glass shatters)
(clattering)
(door bangs open)
(splashing)
(Stu shuddering)
(Stu sobbing)
I don't know what happened.
It wasn't me.
Who, then?
I don't know.
I'm sorry.
What will become of us?
("Good Golly, Miss Molly")
♪ Mama papa told me son you better watch yourself ♪
♪ If he knew about Miss Molly had to wach my pa myself ♪
♪ Good golly Miss Molly ♪
♪ Sure likes to ball ♪
♪ When you're rockin' and rollin' ♪
♪ Can't hear your mama call ♪
(girls screaming)
♪ Good golly Miss Molly ♪
♪ Sure likes to ball ♪
♪ Good golly Miss Molly ♪
♪ Sure likes to ball ♪
♪ When you're rockin' and rollin' ♪
♪ Can't hear your mama call ♪
(audience applauding)
(plane whooshing overhead)
I like your hair.
(rotors whirring)
Hi.
You should rest.
No.
I have something to show you.
Damn.
Put it on.
No.
Why not?
You know why not, because you broke the radiogram.
What is it?
What's wrong?
They are going to be famous.
I don't want them to be famous.
Bollocks.
You will think that you did the wrong thing.
You will try not to think it,
you will push it out of the way,
but it will keep coming back.
And you will hate me.
No.
You've got it wrong.
You've got it all wrong.
They'll be famous.
The world's not big enough for John.
All he ever needed was to see his way past me.
You showed him how.
I never had a moment's doubt.
I love you.
I've got a surprise for you.
I don't like surprises.
Everybody likes surprises.
Ah, not me.
You'll like this one.
Not me.
Yes, you will.
(Stu winces)
(Stu shouts)
(clattering)
(shouting) Astrid!
Astrid!
Coming!
Ta-da!
I'm sorry.
(Stu thuds)
Stuart?
Sweetie? (cries)
(shouts) No! (crying)
Oh, Stu. (crying)
You know what I like about Hamburg, Mr. McCartney?
No, what do you like about Hamburg, Mr. Lennon?
I was hoping you'd tell me.
Where's Stu?
Look at you.
How do I look?
Like a star.
Where is he?
He's gone.
He's dead.
(both crying)
He was here?
(quietly) Yes.
Just now?
He's always here.
All right, everyone.
Here's a song for absent friends.
("Love Me Tender")
♪ Love me tender ♪
♪ Love me sweet ♪
♪ Never let me go ♪
♪ You have made my life complete ♪
♪ And I love you so ♪
Fuck it, let's go!
(fans screaming)
("Twist and Shout")
♪ Ah ah ah ah ♪
♪ Well shake it up baby now ♪
♪ Shake it up baby ♪
♪ Twist and shout ♪
♪ C'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon baby now ♪
♪ Come on baby ♪
♪ Come on and work it on out ♪
♪ Work it on out ooh ♪
♪ Well work it on out ♪
♪ Work it on out ♪
♪ You know you look so good ♪
♪ You look so good ♪
♪ You know you got me going now ♪
♪ Got me going ♪
♪ Just like I knew you would ♪
♪ Like I knew you would ooh ♪
♪ Well shake it up baby now ♪
♪ Shake it up baby ♪
♪ Twist and shout ♪
♪ C'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon baby now ♪
♪ Come on baby ♪
♪ Come on and work it on out ♪
♪ Work it on out ooh ♪
♪ You know you twist little girl ♪
♪ Twist little girl ♪
♪ You know you twist so fine ♪
♪ Twist so fine ♪
♪ Come on and twist a little closer now ♪
♪ Twist a little closer ♪
♪ And let me know that you're mine ♪
♪ Let me know you're mine ooh ♪
(fans screaming)
♪ Ah ah ah ah ♪
♪ Well shake it up baby now ♪
♪ Shake it up baby ♪
♪ Twist and shout ♪
♪ C'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon baby now ♪
♪ Come on baby ♪
♪ Come on and work it on out ♪
♪ Work it on out ooh ♪
♪ You know you twist like girl ♪
♪ Twist little girl ♪
♪ You know you twist so fine ♪
♪ Twist so fine ♪
♪ Come on and twist a little closer now ♪
♪ Twist a little closer ♪
♪ And let me know that you're mine ♪
♪ Let me know you're mine ooh ♪
♪ Well shake it shake it shake it baby now ♪
♪ Shake it up baby ♪
♪ Well shake it shake it shake it baby now ♪
♪ Shake it up baby ♪
♪ Well shake it shake it shake it baby now ♪
♪ Shake it up baby ♪
♪ Ah ah ah ah ♪
(fans screaming)
(gentle music)
("Slow Down")
♪ Well come on pretty baby won't you walk with me ♪
♪ Come on pretty baby won't you talk with me ♪
♪ Come on pretty baby give me one more chance ♪
♪ Try and save our romance ♪
♪ Slow down ♪
♪ Baby now you're moving way too fast ♪
♪ You gotta give me a little loving ♪
♪ Give me a little loving if you want our love to last ♪
♪ Well I used to walk you home baby after school ♪
♪ Carry your books home too ♪
♪ But now you got a boyfriend down the street ♪
♪ Baby what you trying to do ♪
♪ Better slow down ♪
♪ Baby now you're moving way too fast ♪
♪ You gotta give me a little loving ♪
♪ Give me a little loving ♪
♪ Brr if you want our love to last ♪
♪ Ow ♪
♪ Well you know that I love you tell the world I do ♪
♪ Come on pretty baby why can't you be true ♪
♪ I need your loving baby oh so bad ♪
♪ The best little woman that I ever had ♪
♪ Slow down ♪
♪ Baby now you're moving way too fast ♪
♪ You gotta give me a little loving ♪
♪ Give me a little loving ♪
♪ Oh if you want our love to last ♪