Frankie was probably the most naturally talented performer
I'd ever seen.
He was...
Energetic, dynamic, charismatic.
He got on that stage, and, baby, he was huge,
bigger than life.
See, you all got to understand.
By the time I met Frankie,
he was a record-deal-needing, broke-ass,
scam-on-his-mama-for-a-fix druggie.
Hell, the boy had so many needle marks on him,
I thought he was a goddamn pincushion.
Hmph. A cute pincushion,
who could sing his little ass off.
Frankie was a perfect gentleman.
We had a wonderful courtship.
He used to bring me flowers and write me poetry and...
Nobody could do it like Frankie Lymon.
He was a junkie motherfucker.
He was the love of my life.
I don't know what I can say about this next act.
What can you say but "sensational"
all over the world.
Frankie Lymon
and The Teenagers!
♪ Yeah, da-doom bop, da-doom bop ♪
♪ Da-doom bop duh duh ♪
♪ Ooh wah ooh wah ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh wah ooh wah ♪
♪ Ooh wah ooh wah ♪
♪ Why do birds sing so gay ♪
♪ And lovers await the break of day? ♪
♪ Why do they fall in love? ♪
♪ Why does the rain fall from up above? ♪
♪ Why do fools fall in love? ♪
♪ Why do they fall in love? ♪
♪ Why do birds sing so gay? ♪
♪ And lovers await the break of day? ♪
♪ Why do they fall in love? ♪
Cute, huh? Diana Ross' new song.
Miss girl don't cut nothin' but hits.
♪ Fall from up above? ♪
♪ Why do fools ♪
Where you going?
Look, it got to call my lawyer.
Since when you got a lawyer?
Since just now.
Information? Is there some kind of 5-5-5 number
for a l-a-y-w-e-r?
A lawyer.
Come on, this is information.
I need some information about a lawyer.
♪ For that fool is me ♪
♪ Tell me why ♪
Yes?
Peter Markowitz,
attorney for Elizabeth Waters Lymon.
Sign here, please.
Hi.
Elizabeth Lymon. Elizabeth Lymon.
Oh, Mrs. Lymon.
Elizabeth, I'm... I'm Peter Markowitz.
Elizabeth Lymon. Why they send you?
Uh, legal referral sends whoever's available.
Please.
Uh, my contact said
there was a dispute over royalties.
Is that...
How old are you? You look kind of young.
I'm 30.
30? Damn.
I swear, if you're broke or in jail,
you get the kids just starting out
on the bottom rung out for a buck.
I'm hardly bottom rung, Mrs. Lymon,
or should I say Mickey Waters,
alias Elizabeth Phillips, alias Josephine Phillips...
Ok, ok, so you did your homework. Whoop-Dee-doo.
Don't have a cow, all right?
What are you in for, this time?
I ripped off some clothes and shit, but look...
I only got seven months left, so let's just move on.
Now, you know anything about the record business?
I know I like music.
You know you like music. Tch.
Look, I was married to Frankie Lymon.
Ok.
Frankie Lymon, sang with The Teenagers,
remember them?
Before your time.
Anyway, look, when Frankie was alive,
he wrote a lot of tunes,
and one of them was called why do fools fall in love.
That's the song Diana Ross has out.
Diana's singing it, but Frankie wrote it.
Since he died, they've been using that song
in the film American Graffiti,
a greeting card commercial,
and now Diana's turning it gold again.
I'm his wife, so I should get paid, right?
If Frankie wrote the song, then he must own
at least part of the publishing and its copyright,
thereby making it part of his estate,
so, uh, yeah, you'd be due those earnings.
Oh, yes! All right!
That's what I wanted to hear.
I'm gonna get paid, sister.
Excuse me. Excuse me.
Mrs. Lymon, what label was he on?
Uh, roulette records.
Roulette?
Call the owner. Morris Levy. All right?
But if you do, spray the receiver.
The guy's so slimy,
you might get head lice from the phone.
♪ Tell me why ♪
♪ Ah ah ah ♪
♪ Ah ah hiy ♪
♪ Tell me why ♪
Ho ho ho. Merry Christmas.
Thanks a lot. Happy holidays.
Merry Christmas.
Hey, Santa. Here you go.
Merry Christmas.
Ha ha ha. Jingle all the way.
Merry Christmas, sister.
Jingle bells.
Jingle all the way.
Merry Christmas.
May I help you?
Yes, I'm Elizabeth Lymon.
I'm here to see Morris Levy about my check.
He's expecting you.
That's what I wanted to hear.
Follow me. Merry Christmas.
Elizabeth, with radio: ♪ we wish you a merry Christmas ♪
♪ We wish you a merry Christmas, we... ♪
Hey, Elizabeth.
What are you doing here?
We have a situation.
The only situation I'm interested in
is where is my dough? Hey, Morris.
This is Lawrence Roberts.
He's an attorney from LA.
And this, it seems, is Mrs. Frankie Lymon.
Oh, no.
Oh, miss thing knows me.
As you can see,
we seem to have one Mrs. Lymon too many.
Wait a minute. I know you ain't came all the way up to New York
in that cheap-ass nylon wig talking shit
when you know that me and Frankie was married.
Oh, please.
He dropped you like a whore's panties.
Why, you bald-headed,
girdle-wearing, fake-fur-wearing bitch.
Sit your nappy-headed ass down, bitch.
I'm gonna kick your ass.
Ladies, come on. Zola. Elizabeth.
Come on, it's obvious that I've got a vested interest
in this situation. You know?
So somebody please tell me...
Who was married to Frankie when he died?
This is Frankie and Elizabeth's marriage license.
It's dated January 23, 1964.
Screw that.
It's about this.
Miss girl here was married
to Charles Phillips back in '59.
Remember?
Well, she was obviously divorced by the time...
No, I don't think so.
This is a copy of the divorce decree.
Your client and Charles Phillips
weren't divorced until 1965.
Meanwhile, I married Frankie
October 8, 1965,
in Mexicali, Mexico.
Plus we have a contract with Mr. Levy
stating that Zola gets 15 grand,
plus 20% of future royalties
as long as she proves she's Frankie Lymon's widow.
Wait. This is the same deal you cut with Elizabeth.
And tried to cut with me.
I tried to stop them, sir.
It's all right.
Emira, this Elizabeth Waters, Peter Markowitz,
Lawrence Roberts and Zola Taylor.
Everybody, this is...
Mrs. Frankie Lymon.
What?! What?!
And this is my attorney, Ezra Grahme.
That's right. And we're on our way to court
to file a stay against these proceedings,
and we are suing you, Mr. Levy,
for all back royalties you illegally collected
when you put your name on Frankie's songs.
Excuse me?
Frankie and I were married
June 30, 1967, in Augusta, Georgia.
We were still married when Frankie died.
I paid for his funeral,
and I don't recall seeing any of you there.
Oh, please, don't even play me,
not coming in here wearing white after labor day
looking like some old down-home schoolmarm.
Yes, I am a down-home schoolmarm.
I teach high school English,
a class you obviously skipped.
Oh, no, she didn't. No, she didn't!
It's bad enough I've got to deal with this bitch,
let alone now your country-apple ass!
Who you calling a bitch?!
Should I call the cops?!
Yeah, baby, you call the police
and tell them we got two impostors up here
running a scam, because I'm Mrs. Frankie Lymon.
I'm Mrs. Frankie Lymon!
I am Mrs. Frankie Lymon.
Jesus Christ, it's a goddamn game show.
She lying.
You lied to me.
What do you mean, I'm lying?
I buried Frankie.
All Mrs. Lymons shut up, damn it!
Don't you tell me to shut up!
Who the hell are you telling to shut up?
Hear ye, hear ye, surrogate court
of the state of New York is now in session.
All rise.
The honorable Sarah d'Angelo presiding.
Draw ye near and ye shall be heard.
Please sit.
This proceeding is for letters of administration
for the estate of frank Joseph Lymon deceased.
Is that correct?
Yes, your honor.
Yes, ma'am.
And am I to understand that there are three women here
claiming to be the alleged widow of the decedent?
Yes, your honor.
Ok. Mr. Roberts, present your first witness, please.
I'd like to call Mr. Richard Barrett
to the stand, your honor.
My name is Richard Barrett.
For 32 years, I've managed and produced entertainers.
And during those 32 years, Mr. Barrett,
did you have the occasion to manage Frankie Lymon?
I managed and produced Frankie.
Mm-hmm. And when was that Mr. Barrett?
1955.
You see, in 1955, he and his group
used to sing outside my window.
♪ Do fools ♪
♪ Fall in love ♪
Hey, Mr. Barrett, give us a record deal!
Come on!
Who wrote that song? We did.
I'll be right down.
I knew Morris Levy
and George Goldner, his partner,
and they were looking for Latin groups to record.
Now, Herman Santiago,
the lead singer at the time, is Puerto Rican.
I sold Morris on The Teenagers
by telling him they were a Latin group.
On the day of the audition,
things didn't go exactly the way I'd planned.
I called him three times.
Call his house!
I'll call him.
Sherman, is it ringing?
Please be there.
Hey. Here he is. Here he is.
Herman.
Mr. Barrett, he's sick.
What are we supposed to do, postpone?
No, it's ok. We don't postpone. We go on.
We go on, we do it. I got here, all right?
Wait a minute.
I wrote the song with Herman,
and I know the high part.
I could sing it.
Yeah, he could do it.
Don't bullshit me.
I can do it. I can. I promise.
Very good. I'll get back to you guys.
Hey! How you doing?
Pretty good, yeah.
These are the guys I told you about.
How you doing, Mr. Morris?
These guys look pretty un-Spanish.
Just listen to them, all right?
Good-bye, boys.
Muchas gracias.
Muy bueno.
Get off my back.
Come on, you can do this.
All right, ok, all right. Take it easy.
1, 2, 3, 4.
♪ Hey, doom bop, da-doom bop ♪
♪ Da-doom bop da-duh duh ♪
♪ Ooh wah ooh wah ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh wah ooh wah ♪
♪ Why do fools fall in love? ♪
♪ Yeah, doom ♪
♪ Why do birds sing so gay ♪
♪ And lovers await the break of day? ♪
♪ Why do they fall in love? ♪
♪ Why does the rain fall from up above? ♪
♪ Why do fools fall in love? ♪
♪ Why do they fall in love? ♪
Morris was out of the mambo business
and into the doo-wop business. Ha ha ha.
We got a deal? We got a deal?
You know something? He made beaucoup bucks on Frankie.
That's right.
What's your name?
Frankie Lymon.
The record went gold, and Frankie was a hit.
And the women... Ha ha...
They couldn't resist him.
And was Zola Taylor one of those women?
Oh, yeah. Zola was one of them.
Mm-hmm. And did you know about a marriage
between she and Frankie Lymon?
Yeah. It was public knowledge.
No further questions, your honor.
Hey, everybody! The real thing is in town!
And don't you ever forget it.
I am the originator. I am the emancipator.
I'm the man that started it all,
and before me was nothing.
I've been abused. I've been misused. I ain't no fool.
Settle down. Mr. Penniman.
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Mr. Penniman!
Yes, Bailiff.
Raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear the testimony you're about to give
in the matter pending before this court to be the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you god?
I do, do, do, do, do! I do!
State your name and occupation, Mr. Penniman.
My legal name is Richard penniman,
but I'm known to everybody as little Richard,
the architect of rock and roll.
I am the originator! I am the innovator!
I am the emancipator! I'm the motivator!
I conceived and achieved it,
defined and refined it. Mold and souled it.
Then the white man stole it.
All right.
Oh, yes. Stole my... ♪ Whoo ♪
Stole my wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom.
Took all my copyrights. Put out covers on me.
Why do you think they call it rhythm and blues?
And, Mr. Penniman,
do you think that's what happened to Frankie Lymon?
Baby, Morris didn't even use no Vaseline.
Ow! Ow!
Shut up.
Now, then, Mr. Penniman, do you know Zola Taylor?
Oh, yes. Hi, babe.
Hey, babe.
And did you know about a marriage
between she and Frankie Lymon?
Everybody knew about it.
Besides, I knew they was married
'cause frank was crazy about her.
And how did you know that?
Go ahead, Richard. Tell it.
Me and Frankie were best friends.
And I was there from the jump.
We used to tour together
with the Alan freed show back in 1956.
Take your time, please.
Tickets. Tickets right here.
Hurry up!
Let's go!
Come on! In the balcony!
♪ Ooh ooh ♪
♪ Too real is this feeling of make-believe ♪
♪ Ooh ooh ♪
♪ Too real when I feel ♪
♪ What my heart ♪
♪ Can't conceal ♪
♪ Oh, yes, I'm the great pretender ♪
♪ Ooh ooh ♪
♪ Just laughin' and gay ♪
♪ Like a clown ♪
♪ Ooh ooh ♪
♪ I seem to be ♪
♪ What I'm not ♪
♪ You see ♪
♪ I'm wearing my heart ♪
♪ Like a crown ♪
♪ Pretending that you're ♪
♪ Still around ♪
Fabulous, huh?
The Platters.
Baby, you are one fine thing.
Ooh!
Ouch! You want me to get you some ice?
Boy, you better leave that street shit
in the streets for her.
Sweeping the charts today...
Well, uh, you just hang here
and experience some of my street shit.
Go get 'em, daddy-o.
Go, go, go, go.
♪ Baby, baby ♪
♪ Baby, baby, how I want you ♪
♪ Baby, baby, how I need you ♪
♪ Baby, baby, you're the only one ♪
♪ 2 ♪
♪ 3, 4 ♪
♪ Baby, baby, how I miss you ♪
♪ Baby, baby, long to kiss you ♪
♪ Baby, baby, say you want me, too ♪
♪ 3 ♪
♪ 4, 5 ♪
♪ You're my favorite number ♪
♪ All that counts is you ♪
♪ I'm so glad it's you I want ♪
♪ I'm so glad you want me, too ♪
♪ Baby, baby, want to bring you ♪
♪ Baby, baby, a wedding ring, too ♪
♪ Baby, baby, so we'll be 3 ♪
♪ 4 ♪
♪ 5, 6 ♪
♪ Come on, baby, baby ♪
♪ When I'm near you ♪
♪ Baby, baby, I would like to ♪
♪ Baby, baby, have a number 7 ♪
♪ 8 ♪
♪ 9, 10 ♪
♪ You're my favorite number ♪
♪ All that counts is you ♪
♪ I'm so glad it's you I want ♪
♪ I'm so glad you want me, too ♪
♪ Baby, baby, I will thank you ♪
♪ Baby, baby, you know you like to ♪
♪ Baby, baby, till the clock strikes 9 ♪
♪ 10 ♪
♪ 11, 12 ♪
Go home.
That's all. Bye-bye.
That-a-way, Frankie!
Yeah!
Yeah, Frankie had the heat,
and everybody felt it.
Camera one. Sound. Action.
♪ Yeah, doom bop, da-doom bop ♪
♪ Da-doom bop duh duh ♪
♪ Ooh wah ooh wah ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh wah ooh wah ♪
♪ Why do fools fall in love? ♪
Keep it going.
Ok, sound is perfect.
Very good. Ok.
♪ Ah ah hiy ♪
♪ Tell me why ♪
Hey, who's that girl?
Who is this?
He's dancing with a white girl.
Get that girl off the stage now!
It's a little late. It's live TV, guys.
The show was live.
And, baby, Frankie danced with a white girl
on TV in white folks' homes?
Caused a scandal, honey.
The network canceled the big beat
before I could even get on it.
So you know it was a scandalous thing, child.
But it helped to make Frankie the man.
♪ Baby, lay me, lay me, lay me low ♪
No.
Somebody need to lay you all to rest 'cause you're flat.
Maybe you should change your name to the flatters.
♪ Baby, lay me, lay me, lay me low ♪
♪ Baby, lay me, lay me, lay me, lay me ♪
♪ lay me, lay me, lay me, lay me low ♪
Hold it down.
We in Cicero now.
Just eat, pee,
and don't piss off the white folks, ok?
In other words, be incog-negro, y'all.
Oh, man.
♪ I need ♪
♪ Hungry love ♪
Richard, can I borrow a couple of bucks?
Hi.
Hell, all I know is I'm hungry.
Oh, lord.
I guess chitlins is out of the question.
Shut up.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait.
How come you always stompin' on my heart?
You prefer I pee on it?
That's what's gonna happen you don't let me off this bus.
Well, is everybody hungry?
Hey, how come y'all didn't...
How come y'all didn't wait for me?
We figured you know your way to the table.
Excuse me. We'd like to order, please.
Food, sweetheart.
Aren't you little Richard?
Well, I better be.
And you! Why, you're Frankie Lymon!
Yeah.
Aah! Jeez, it's Frankie Lymon and little Richard!
They're here!
Oh, jeez, hi.
I have all your records.
Could I just get a little autograph? Yeah.
Can we get a little something to eat?
Little Richard and Frankie Lymon are here!
Oh, man!
Oh, you can just have anything you want to eat.
Will you just hold my hand for a second? Oh, god.
Cheeseburgers.
Ok. Oh, The Platters!
♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪
¡Fíjate!
What's wrong?
What's wrong with the teenager?
I don't know.
Say, uh, dig that.
Dig what?
Right there.
It's a shame.
Hey, Frankie, where you going?
Leave him alone.
He's just being Frankie.
Look at your business.
Say, hold on a second.
You want to come in for a cup of coffee
or some lunch or something?
No.
Why don't you take this all right?
Just don't drink it all up, ok?
Be cool.
Thank you.
That was decent.
I know. Most of those guys are alcoholics.
Could've been my dad.
I mean, he's sort of...
Well, he's kind of a bum, too.
Come on. Let's get something to eat.
So tell me about your daddy.
Uh, he left us eight months ago.
I don't know. It must've got to him
I was the one making enough money
to pay for all the bills, and he wasn't.
You know, he's the one who started me singing.
Really? Yeah.
He had a gospel group when I was a kid,
and me and my brothers used to sing with him.
We used to have a lot of fun.
It don't matter now.
He was a drunk.
Anytime I turned around, he was beating on us.
When you're ready.
Uh, let me take care of this.
Because if you haven't heard,
my record's number three!
Yeah! Yeah!
That's right. Number three.
No, no. You better let me take care of this,
'cause if you haven't heard,
my record is number one.
Ooh! Ooh!
You tell him, Zola.
That's right, Frankie.
♪ Wop bop a loo mop a lop bump bump ♪
♪ Tutti-frutti, oh, rutti ♪
♪ Tutti-frutti, whoo ♪
♪ Tutti-frutti, hey, oh, rutti ♪
♪ Tutti-frutti, oh, rutti ♪
Whoo!
No, no, no! The King, you stupid platter.
Are you playing to lose?
Come on! Stop it!
This is business! It's business!
It was not my decision, ok?
Talk to Morris, all right?
No, you talk to me!
Don't you walk away from me, ¡cabrón!
I started this group, ok? Don't ever turn your back on me!
I will kick your ass!
Come on! Hey!
Frankie!
Don't you see he's trying to break us up?
You've been walking with this all damn night.
What does this say? Out in the cold again.
And on the other side, miracle in the rain.
That's Frankie Lymon. There's no Teenagers.
There's no group. There's no nothing.
This solo shit has been planned from the gate, wasn't it?
You knew all along.
We were a family! We came up together!
I swear, it wasn't my decision.
You want to walk? Fine. But family doesn't do that.
Family ain't bound by contracts.
That's low.
We're still family.
No, Frankie.
Thanks a lot, Frankie.
Frankie, he's crazy.
You want a drink?
I don't want a drink.
Just leave me alone.
Frankie?
What are you doing?
Herman was right.
I... knew they wanted me to go solo two months ago.
But the way Morris handled it...
So chickenshit.
Well, he's a chickenshit guy, Frankie.
I thought he'd at least
keep The Teenagers together, you know?
Yeah.
Those are my friends, Zola.
We grew up together.
We did everything together.
We're like family.
More family than my own, and this...
This is how I treat them.
Really, I understand.
No. You...
I do. Really.
Why don't you and I go for a walk?
We can maybe get a drink. We can talk.
It'll make you feel better. Hmm?
Come on.
Now, sooner or later, Frankie,
you are going to have to realize, ok,
that it's you people come to see.
You and that fabulous voice you have.
Come on. Here's to Frankie's voice.
Ahh, man.
You know, sometimes my voice,
me being on stage, it's like...
It's like all I got going.
When I'm out there, I'm not just some colored kid from Harlem
or some guy record execs are fighting over.
You know, man, I'm just me,
and that audience... ha ha!
I feel alive. I feel free, and I love it!
First time I heard you sing, I was standing in the back,
I saw you and said, "this guy is so special.
He has got to be touched by god."
What you have, Frankie,
it's so... Amazing.
I can't even...
It's what?
I... I...
Frankie, you know,
I think it was a mistake
that I asked you to come up here.
Maybe the mistake was...
Not asking me sooner.
Baby...
Frankie, hold... hold on.
Mmm, mmm, mmm.
What...
Frankie, what are you doing?
Wait. Frankie, what are you doing?
Wait. Frankie, wait.
What?
You're gonna rip my dress.
Oh, I...
It's over here.
Right. Right.
Do it like that.
Oh, man. Mmm!
Ha! Wait. Frankie, wait!
Frankie. No.
Oh. Right.
It hooks in the back.
Thank you, god.
Frankie told me what happened the next day.
But I wasn't no fool.
Even ray Charles could see
the two of them was like white on rice after that.
You know what I mean.
Thank you, Mr. Penniman.
No further questions, your honor.
Fine. Then this witness is dismissed.
Groovy!
State your name and address for the records, please.
Elizabeth Waters Lymon,
3639 south 22nd street, Philadelphia.
Elizabeth,
when did you first meet Frankie Lymon?
In 1961.
See, my first husband had split on me and our baby,
so I left Yolanda with my mama in Philly,
and I came to New York looking for work.
Well, one day I was out shopping and I ran into Frankie.
I didn't know that he was Frankie Lymon.
Yes. I'd like to see this perfume here, please.
Of course. Just a moment.
Thank you.
Excuse me, miss.
I need you to empty your pockets for me.
Excuse me?
I've been looking all over for you.
Did you find the perfume you've been looking for?
Are you two together?
Yes. This is the perfume that mama loves.
Let's not forget the bracelet for my mother.
The rest of our things are at the counter.
Let's pay for it.
I'm watching you.
What the hell are you doing?
You should thank me, doll.
For what? I ain't done nothin'.
Then what is all this? Damn, baby.
You got a nursing school? What's this?
What's your angle, huh?
Hey, I don't want to see a cute thing like you
wind up in the 43rd. It's a shithole.
Hmm.
Hey, what kind of a dog is that?
A somma dog.
A somma dog?
Yeah. Somma this, somma that.
Ha ha ha! I like it.
He's cute. Yeah.
So you got a daughter or something?
Yeah. I got a little girl.
Yeah?
Her name is Yolanda.
Wow.
She's eight months.
Bet she's beautiful, just like her mama.
So tell me, is her daddy still around?
He told me he was a singer
and gave me two tickets to his show that night.
I never been to this club. I hear it's nice.
Mickey, who is he?
I don't know, but he sure is cute.
He's cute!
But before I go, I just want to say
if I've offended anyone here tonight
or upset you by anything I've said,
let me address that with this...
Kiss my ass.
Funny man. One more time. Redd Foxx, y'all.
And now coming to the stage, one of the all-time greats,
put your hands together, ladies and gentlemen,
for Frankie Lymon!
♪ Bah-oop doo wop ♪
♪ Doo wop a wop ♪
♪ Bah-oop doo wop ♪
♪ Doo wop a wop ♪
♪ Bah-oop doo wop ♪
♪ So you met someone who set you back on your heels ♪
♪ Goody goody ♪
♪ So you met someone and now you know how it feels ♪
♪ Goody goody ♪
♪ So you gave him your heart, too ♪
That's him!
That's your friend?!
Yes!
Aah! Aah!
♪ Now how do you do? ♪
♪ So you're lying awake and singing the blues all night ♪
♪ Goody goody ♪
♪ So you think that love's a ball of dynamite ♪
♪ Hooray and hallelujah ♪
♪ You had it coming to ya ♪
♪ Goody goody for him ♪
♪ Goody goody for me ♪
♪ And I hope you're satisfied, you rascal you ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
Aah!
♪ So you met someone who set you back on your heels ♪
♪ Goody goody ♪
♪ So you met someone... ♪
Bullshit! Frankie didn't wear no open shirt.
He was a class act.
All right. Your honor.
You making him out like a whore like you.
You shut up! You shut up!
I'm the one telling the story, Missy.
It's an a and b conversation.
Frankie was classy.
Miss Taylor, quiet!
That doesn't sound like my Frankie.
Sit down, miss Taylor, please.
Sit down. Sit down.
All right. Continue, miss Waters.
Well...
♪ You've been taken for a ride ♪
♪ And I hope you're satisfied, you rascal you! ♪
You sure my friend Paula is gonna be all right?
She'll be fine. Come on.
Whoo! Ha ha ha!
Whoo!
Better get a towel.
This is it. Come on in here.
Make yourself at home. Have a seat.
You know...
This is normally not this messy.
I stay so busy, I'm always gone,
I haven't had time to clean up the place.
I thought with you being a star and everything...
You thought because I'm a singer
I should have maids and servants.
Well, I don't.
Sure don't.
In fact, this ain't even my place.
I share it with a roommate who's always gone.
That's cool. I'm not judging you.
I think it's fine.
You fine, too.
Thank you.
You can sing, too.
Thank you again.
That's Zola Taylor, huh?
Yeah. She's a good friend.
Mmm. She's pretty.
So, you goin' out with her?
Oh, no. See, that's old news.
Mm-hmm.
I just don't understand. Why me? I'm a nobody.
I'm not some big star like miss Zola.
I'm just Mickey.
Maybe it's because you're not some big star.
Maybe it's because you thought I was a nice guy
before... before you knew who I was.
I still think you're nice.
I think you're nice, too.
Mmm. Come on.
What's that?
We moved in together.
I know, girl.
Said five minutes. I been here five hours.
Ok. Right here by the wall.
I ain't doin' this all day now.
Right there.
Wastin' my Saturday.
Girl, I'm a little woman.
I'll catch a hernia messing with you.
Girl, I'm sorry I had you dragging
this heavy thing up here with me.
I should have got one of the fellas.
It's all right.
I love dragging that bad boy up four flights of stairs
just so you and your broke-ass junkie boyfriend
can be comfy-cozy.
How you gonna talk about my man like that?
Come on now, Mickey.
The boy got a $10-a-day habit.
Where you hear that lie from?
Who do you think you're talking to?
He's taking you for a ride. Seen it happen every day.
I'm from the streets. I know what it look like.
When's the last time he had a record?
He's been trying.
I got a record player. I ain't heard no records.
You're too hard on him.
♪ No, no, no, no, no, no, no ♪
Well, it was true.
Frankie hadn't recorded in years,
and by '61, music had moved on,
and Frankie's career, it was on the downslide.
How you doin'?
Make sure you get a good book, all right?
Will do.
Hey, Mrs. Johnson. Tell Vernon to come see me.
I will.
Ahh, Mickey, sweet Mickey.
Easy for us. Up we go!
Gol-ly.
Now, how come you can't do that, huh?
Aww...
Teach him.
Hey, Frankie.
Aw, baby, it's looking good in here.
Well, I still got to paint and stuff,
but it's coming along.
Hey, I got something for you, sunshine.
For me? Oh, that's so sweet.
Oh, my god!
Frankie, god, is it mink?
Of course, it's mink. Try it on.
Help me.
Wow.
Nobody ever done nothing like this for me before.
I love it.
I love you.
Frankie told me he was gonna give me everything.
Strut your stuff.
And he did. He was so good to me.
I was happier than I had ever been.
When I was with him, he made me feel like a star.
Yes! Told you I was gonna show you things,
now come on, woman!
But then reality hit...
Big time.
Frankie's drug thing...
Well, it forced me to find
new and interesting places to hide cash.
Hey, Frankie.
You talk to Morris about an advance?
What did he say? Yeah.
What you think? He told me to beat it.
Forget him, Frankie. Find yourself a new label.
Don't let folks control your fate.
You know, I saw on what's my line?
Where this guy Nietzche said,
"I am the master of my fate,
the captain of my soul."
Do you know what that means?
I don't want to hear no bullshit about Nickiski
or whoever the fuck he is.
I need a gig, man!
Fine. I was just trying to say some kind words to you.
Stay at roulette and stay broke, then.
Can't say nothing to you.
You're always lecturing me.
Damn!
Look, um, I need some money.
No! The rent is due tomorrow.
I'm gonna give it back to you on time. Damn!
You said that shit last month.
That's why we ain't got no phone.
Don't embarrass me.
I got this landlord asking for the rent tomorrow.
Frankie, what are you doing?
Where the money I gave you to hold?
You ain't gave me no money, Frankie.
You hid it.
No, I didn't.
Frankie, this shit has got you acting crazy.
You want me to look through stuff?
Frankie, what are you doing?
Want me to look for the money?
Where the fuck is my money?
Stop that, Frankie!
That shit got you acting like you're crazy!
You fucking crazy! Where the money at?
What is wrong with you?
You're what's wrong with me!
You're why I can't get off the fucking dime!
Always lecturing me!
I ain't done nothing!
I know you got the money somewhere around here.
Acting like you crazy!
You got the money!
What's gotten into you?
You're supposed to be my woman!
What is all this shit playing games...
♪ In your eyes ♪
♪ Smoke gets in your ♪
♪ Eyes ♪
I don't need this shit.
I damn sure don't need you. You remember that.
I'm gone.
♪ He's mine ♪
♪ Yes, he's really mine ♪
♪ He's mine ♪
♪ Wop doo wop doo wop ♪
♪ He's mine ♪
♪ Wop doo wop doo wop ♪
♪ He's mine ♪
♪ Wop doo wop doo wop ♪
♪ Really mine... ♪
Frankie, I want my money, damn it!
I'll get you, Frankie!
I'll get you!
Frankie, what are you... Did you go see Zola?!
No! No! Frankie!
Oh, my god! Frankie!
Frankie, what are you doing?
Frankie, why are you running?
Get him! Get him!
Go! Go!
Frankie, I'm gonna kill you!
Frankie, open the door!
Get in!
Frankie, what is going on?
Shit!
Oh, shit! Wait a minute!
You ain't got time to say "hi" to an old friend?
Unh!
Get that motherfucker! Get that boy!
No!
Leave him alone! Oh! What y'all doing?!
Unh! Unh!
Unh! Mickey!
So you try to pop and run out on me?
Unh!
Here. Here.
Here! That's all we got! Take it!
This ain't shit.
Oh, no! No!
Ok! Ok! Ok!
Oh, no! Please! Wait! No!
No! Please!
No! No, please!
It's mink! It's mink! It's real!
Next time your man wants some of my shit,
he pays up front in cash.
Ok.
No! Unh!
Get my money!
It's ok. Just go.
Just go.
Frankie.
Oh, baby.
It's ok.
Why you give them the mink, baby girl?
I'll get a new one.
That was your gift, baby.
I'll get another one.
Shouldn't have gave it to them.
Shh.
Shouldn't have gave it to them.
It's ok.
Because I gave Coop that money,
we couldn't pay our rent and we got evicted,
so we had to move in with my mama in Philly.
♪ Oh, she may be weary ♪
♪ Young girls, they do get wearied... ♪
We lived in Philadelphia for two years.
Boy, they were hard times.
Frankie was hardly ever working,
and we never had no money.
He was struggling with his drug thing.
He really tried to quit.
And I still believed in him.
One time we drove down to Virginia for a gig.
What are we doing here?
Come on.
Say, we want to get married.
Married?
We do?
Did you change your mind?
No! No!
Of course I want to marry you.
Baby, I told you. I'm gonna give you everything.
I promise.
Let's get to it. Ok.
I'm a little nervous.
S-sign here.
Right here? Ok.
Elizabeth, I'd like you to take a look
at this document. Do you recognize the signatures?
Yes. They're Frankie's and mine.
And can you tell me what it says
next to the words "status of applicant"?
"Single."
I'm sorry. I couldn't hear that.
It says, "single."
Could you explain to the court
why you wrote the word "single"?
Actually, Frankie filled in that part.
I guess he didn't want any confusion to stop us.
So you admit there was confusion
because you were still married
to your first husband.
You lied on your application.
Not intentionally.
I didn't know I was still married.
This lawyer told me I was free to marry again.
Isn't it true you'd have done anything
to marry Frankie Lymon, including lie?
Objection! Don't answer that!
I loved Frankie!
And, yes, I would have done anything to save his life!
♪ I'd like to know ♪
♪ That your love ♪
♪ Sha la la la ♪
Pay first, get high later.
Take your fucking money. I got a show to do.
♪ True love ♪
♪ So tell me now ♪
Where the fuck is he?
I don't know.
♪ ...ask again ♪
♪ Will you still love me ♪
♪ Tomorrow? ♪
And that was the single
will you love me tomorrow?
Very good. Very good.
Now let's have a big hand
for the boy wonder himself, Frankie Lymon!
I see nobody!
Frankie!
Hi, baby.
Go get 'em.
Make him feel welcome.
Frankie Lymon! Let's hear it!
♪ Mmm mmm mmm mm mm mm mm ♪
♪ Mmm mmm mmm... ♪
♪ Mmm mmm mmm mm mm mm mm ♪
♪ Mmm mmm mmm mm ♪
♪ Go go go go-oo-oo ♪
♪ Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Whoa oh oh oh ♪
♪ Little bitty pretty one ♪
♪ Come on and talk to me ♪
♪ Lovely lovely lovely one ♪
♪ Come sit down on my knee ♪
♪ Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Whoa oh oh oh... ♪
♪ Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Whoa oh oh oh ♪
♪ Tell you a story ♪
♪ Happened a long time ago ♪
♪ Little pretty pretty one ♪
♪ I've really watched you grow ♪
A fucking junkie.
♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Whoa... ♪
Frankie!
I'm dropping him!
If you're smart, you'll do the same thing.
Somebody help me!
Help me! Oh, Frankie!
Frankie! Come on!
Help! Frankie, please!
Come on, Frankie, wake up.
Get an ambulance!
Frankie was my husband,
and I had to do something...
So I checked him into a hospital.
It was expensive,
but the Bible says...
That a wife should do anything to save her husband.
♪ Nowhere to run to, baby ♪
♪ Nowhere to hide... ♪
Ain't shit happening tonight.
Right here, baby! Hey, sugar!
You want to have some fun tonight?
I'll lick you like a lollipop.
You'll lick me like a lollipop?
Come on. Hop in.
See you, girl.
All right.
I think this isn't your lucky night, hon.
Damn! Man, what?!
I can't go to jail. My man is in the hospital.
I'm just out here...
Oh!
Mmm.
Get off me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Frankie, what are you doing here?
I'm paying for you to be at that hospital.
Baby, I didn't like that place.
Them people mean.
They didn't treat me right.
Smell like a damn distillery. Ugh!
What you drinkin'?
I've been drinking some liquor.
What you doing with my bottle?
Oh, man.
Look, why don't you pack your stuff up?
We're getting out of here.
You're going back to Philadelphia with your mama.
I'm going out to LA with Zola.
Zola?
Yeah. She got some gigs lined up for me, baby.
We gonna make it this time.
Boy, I am out here hooking for your ass
'cause you can't stay clean
and all you can think about
is your snot-nose old girlfriend?
Well, fine! Take your sorry, junkie stank-ass
and get on out of here!
'Cause you don't want shit, you ain't got shit,
and you ain't never gonna be shit!
You know who the fuck I am?!
I know who you were.
I swear... I swear...
Frankie, what are you doing?
I'm gonna toss this motherfucker.
Frankie, don't do it!
Don't play with the dog like that!
Apologize!
I'm sorry!
Get on your fucking knees and apologize to me!
Yeah! Uh-huh!
All you care about is this stupid fucking dog!
I'm sorry!
You don't care about me!
All you care about is this stupid fucking dog!
Look at your ass.
Please don't play with the dog.
Look at your ass. "Frankie, please."
What the fuck you want, Ming?
I'll throw this motherfucker!
I'll throw this... ha ha!
I ain't gonna do nothing. Get up.
Ow!
Shit! The motherfucker bit me!
Oh, shit! I'm sorry, baby!
Frankie, you killed my baby!
He bit me! He bit me!
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
You killed my baby!
I didn't mean to do it.
Get off of me!
I didn't mean to do it. She bit me!
Get off of me! Get out of here!
Baby!
Get out of here.
I'm sorry.
Get off of me! Get out, Frankie!
You gotta go! I can't take no more.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Just go. Go!
I didn't mean it, baby.
I didn't mean it.
Your honor, may I request a short recess, please?
Yes. We'll take a 10-minute recess.
Ok.
Thank you.
Elizabeth...
Did you ever see Frankie again
after the unfortunate incident with the dog?
Yeah. Later, in 1965 in LA.
Did Frankie mention he married Zola Taylor?
He ain't married no Zola. He was still married to me.
In fact, he wrote me in Philly
telling me things weren't working out with her.
He didn't tell you shit.
And begged me to come and see him.
And I went to see him.
But I didn't know we were staying at Zola's house.
I'm glad you came out to see me.
I was... I was missing you, baby.
I want you to know,
I'm really sorry about the way things turned out.
They say the best way to put the past behind you
is start all over.
Start over?
What the fuck is going on?
Zola!
Put your clothes on.
Hey, Z. This is my friend...
I don't give a shit who the fuck she is.
What the hell is she doing in my pool?
He invited me for the night. I'm leaving tomorrow.
For the night?
You're getting your shit and getting the fuck out now!
She's leaving.
Wait! Are those my clothes?!
Are you putting on my shit?
Are you crazy?
Out there with my man in my pool in my shit?
I'm going to kill her!
Wait! Hold on!
Frankie, you up here with that bitch
that brought you down in New York?
Who you calling bitch?
I'm gonna put my foot so far up your ass
that you will be sprouting shoelaces!
Damn! Frankie!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
No, wait!
Get her out!
Get me? Goddamn it!
That is a lie, your honor!
You know it didn't go down like that!
Miss Taylor.
Lie after lie after lie. Do something.
Will you chill?
You're supposed to be a class act.
I am a class act.
Then act like one.
It's after 4:00.
I suggest we end today's session and resume tomorrow at 9:00.
We are adjourned.
Your honor, I'd like to call
Zola Taylor to the stand.
Do you solemnly swear
the testimony you're about to give
will be the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, so help you god?
Yes, the real truth.
Miss Taylor,
can you tell me how long
you and Frankie Lymon were involved?
On and off for 10 years.
What happened in 1962?
I had to tour Europe with The Platters,
and Frankie's play dates started to dwindle.
And I believe that was the time when...
He started using.
Heroin?
Yes.
When Frankie couldn't get that high
from being on stage...
I think he...
Tried to find it elsewhere.
You see, Frankie's career was never the same
after he split from The Teenagers.
I was on tour, traveling with The Platters,
and I saw Frankie less and less.
I still had my place in New York, though.
Frankie still had the key.
Zola!
Ha ha! Hey, Z!
Zola Taylor, you tried to sneak in town
and didn't tell nobody.
Come here.
Mmm!
It was obvious
that he had been doing some drugs.
Strung out.
My mink stole, Frankie.
Where is it?
You askin' the wrong person.
I don't... mink? I do...
Frankie.
I thought you took it.
Look, Frankie, I only came back here
to do this Ed Sullivan show.
And then I'm packing up all my stuff,
as you can see,
and I'm going back to LA.
For good this time.
For good?
While I was on tour this last time, Frankie,
I, uh...
I got married.
I... I know it's all kinda sudden for you,
but you know, he lives out in LA.
He used to be a drummer,
but now he's a carpenter.
Out of the blue? Just like that?
He's a really nice man. He's stable.
Do you love him?
I told you, Frankie, he's a nice, good man.
I didn't ask that!
I asked you, do you love him?
Yes!
I love him, ok?
No, no. That's bullshit.
You said marriage would tie you down.
You just didn't want to be tied down to me.
I never said that, Frankie.
Oh, yeah. That's what you said.
Let me tell you something.
You gonna always be tied down to me,
whether you like it or not.
We're like magnets.
Mm-mmm.
Frankie, please.
Don't do this to me, Frankie.
Don't leave me right now, Zola.
I'm married.
That was a mistake. That was a mistake!
No! I got a life, Frankie,
and it ain't gonna include you.
Now you got to go.
Get out!
♪ ...that you sang ♪
♪ So sweetly ♪
♪ You called it ♪
♪ Our love refrain ♪
♪ Out in the cold again... ♪
I didn't see Frankie for another three years.
And then one day,
out of the blue,
he called me up.
And he said that his career had completely nose-dived.
He wanted to know if he could come out to LA
and if I could help him get some gigs.
I said, "Sure. Come on out."
'Cause, see, I knew Frankie.
And I knew that he needed to sing
like he needed the air to breathe.
Frankie!
Zola! Zola!
Oh, wow!
Damn, Frankie, you look...
Well, come over here.
All right.
Yeah, I got all dressed up to come on out here.
Well, first you need to come up out that conk. Yes.
You in LA, baby.
Out here, we ain't colored no more. We're black.
Oh.
Oh, and you need to wear these. Really.
Ok. Right on.
It's the law out here, baby.
Groovy, baby. Groovy!
Dig it.
♪ Say it loud ♪
♪ I'm black, and I'm proud ♪
♪ Say it loud ♪
♪ I'm black, and I'm proud... ♪
All right, brothers! All right!
God, this is far out!
You'll dig it out here.
I'm already digging it. Hey! Peace! All right!
Everybody's into a different bag
out here, Frankie.
It was a beautiful day. I took him to my house.
Frankie couldn't believe my house.
I don't believe it.
This is... this is beautiful.
Ha ha!
Whoo! Man!
Y'all got a pool.
Wow. Man, y'all got every...
Look at this.
Look at this!
I'm on the top of the world, ma!
Actually, I don't think it was the day.
No, no, no. I'm mistaken.
It was nighttime, actually.
Yeah, because I remember...
The lights were twinkling.
I'm on top of the world, ma!
I remember. It was really romantic.
This is great!
Wow. Man.
You got everything.
Oh.
Y'all got an extra bathtub outside?
It's a jacuzzi, Frankie.
Oh, a jacuzzi. I'm gonna try that out.
Now, look,
you know I'm on leave from The Platters, right?
What?
Mm-hmm.
Got walking pneumonia in may.
They changed me like a light bulb.
11 years... boom. I'm out.
Wow. That's... That's heavy, man.
So what you doing now?
Oh, I got my own little act.
Zola Taylor's all-male revue.
Oh.
I'm doing ok.
I can see.
Now, look, Frankie,
this is the guest room, ok?
You can sleep here as long as you want
until you get yourself situated.
That's beautiful. I appreciate that.
Wait, I gotta ask you,
how does your husband feel about me be...
Frankie, look,
when you called,
I said I might be able to get you a few gigs.
That's it, ok? Don't expect nothing else.
Ok, I'm not, I'm not.
Ok, it's cool. I can dig it.
So tell me, when do I meet the carpenter?
What?
I divorced him in Mexico, Frankie.
You divorced him?
In Mexico?
Where's the divorce decree?
Uh, your honor, there are extenuating circumstances
regarding the divorce papers.
But miss Taylor will testify that...
Miss Taylor?
Actually, your honor,
all my papers got destroyed.
Well, did you try to get a copy?
Most certainly.
I contacted The Platters' lawyer,
Ruben Rodriguez,
to see if he could put me in touch with Mr. Worrell...
He was the attorney that arranged
the whole Mexican divorce in the first place.
But, uh, I found out that he was dead.
Is Mr. Rodriguez alive?
Yes, but he's in the hospital.
He's in the hospital.
Yes, with his feet cut off.
Let me just get a handle on this.
You got divorced in Mexico,
but nobody can find any records.
Your Mexican divorce papers were somehow destroyed.
Your ex-husband is dead,
your Mexican attorney's dead,
and your lawyer...
Your lawyer just had his feet amputated,
so he can't come here to testify for you?
Basically, yes.
Ok.
Ok, Mr. Roberts, continue...
Somehow.
Thank you, your honor.
Uh...
Miss Taylor...
Did you marry Frankie Lymon?
Yes, I did.
And can you give us the circumstances
surrounding your marriage
to Frankie Lymon?
Frankie, had just done hullabaloo show.
♪ I'm not content ♪
♪ To be with you ♪
♪ In the daytime ♪
Oh, man, it's been a long time.
Been a long time,
but, baby, you still got it.
I still got it?
You still got it.
How's my hair?
Frankie.
Yeah?
Hurry up. You're up next.
♪ Oh, yeah, ♪
♪ All day and night I'm yours ♪
♪ Leave me never ♪
♪ The only time I feel all right ♪
♪ Is by your side ♪
♪ Girl, I want to be with you ♪
♪ All of the time ♪
♪ All day and all of the night ♪
Smile.
Yeah, smile.
And places!
Frankie, you're on.
Oh, I'm on. I'm on!
Show 'em who you are, ok?
In 5, 4, 3, 2...
Cue the applause.
Now with a blast from the past,
hullaballooers, let's give a big welcome
to Frankie Lymon!
♪ Do wop she do, boom boom boom boom boom ♪
♪ I'll always want you ♪
♪ Because my heart is true ♪
♪ Come, come, come closer ♪
♪ And I'll tell you 'bout the abc's ♪
♪ Darling, believe me ♪
♪ Every day my love grows strong ♪
♪ Find a place there in your heart ♪
♪ And I'll tell you 'bout the abc's ♪
♪ Gosh knows I love you ♪
♪ Heaven knows it's true ♪
♪ I want to be near you ♪
♪ J, k, l, m ♪
♪ N, o, p, q ♪
♪ You'll make me love you ♪
♪ God always told me so ♪
♪ W, x, y, and z ♪
♪ I've told you 'bout the abc's ♪
♪ Oh oh ohhhh! ♪
♪ Oh ohh oh ohh ohhhh! ♪
♪ Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Oh ohh oh ohh ohhhh! ♪
♪ Oh oh oh ohh oh ♪
♪ Oh oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Oh oh oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Run, honey, and don't be blind ♪
♪ Sugar, you stay on my mind ♪
♪ True love is hard to find ♪
♪ I'll tell you 'bout the abc's ♪
♪ Tell you of the abc's ♪
Frankie!
Whoo!
Wow.
Yes!
I still got the moves. Ooh oom ooh.
You do, baby.
You like that?
Mm-hmm.
It was like I never left.
It was beautiful. I mean, it was like...
It was like the waves of love!
I'm not surprised, Frankie.
You got it, baby.
You still got it.
Ohh, don't you just love that feeling
when it seems like the whole world loves you?
And they want you, you know what I mean?
You're traveling.
You're on the road going on tours,
and you're making all this good money.
And all of a sudden, man...
It vanishes. It's gone.
That shit's hard, Z.
It's real hard.
You start feeling like you're worthless to them.
All of a sudden, you just...
Start feeling like you're worthless to yourself.
And then you go to the drinking,
drugs.
You think that's gonna handle it.
Before you know it,
drinking and drugs has a handle on you.
That's what happened.
Until tonight.
Because you believed in me.
Uh-uh. No.
Frankie, don't give me the credit.
You only needed to believe in you.
And you did that tonight.
I wanna kiss you, Zola.
Frankie, uh-uh.
No, I...
Let's not do that.
Zola, ain't nobody else for me.
Listen, I know that.
I love you, Zola.
Only you.
Really?
Ohh...
Frankie.
I keep telling myself
that I don't need you.
I do need you, baby.
Let's...
Let's stop playing.
Let's get married.
Let's get married?
Yes. Let's get married.
Frankie.
You want me to marry you, Frankie?
Say yes.
Yes, Frankie.
♪ Whoo! I feel good ♪
Yes.
Whoo!
♪ I knew that I would now ♪
♪ I feel good ♪
♪ I knew that I would now ♪
Whoo!
♪ So nice ♪
♪ I got you ♪
♪ Bump bump bump bum oom ♪
Whoo!
♪ So good ♪
♪ I got you ♪
You got me, baby.
I got you, baby. I got you!
Mmm. You got me.
Whoo!
♪ Hey! ♪
Whee! Whoo!
And we drove to Tijuana,
and we got married.
Tijuana?
Really? In Tijuana.
Now, in your sworn pretrial deposition,
you, uh... You said Mexicali.
Oh, ok. Mexicali, Tijuana.
I don't know.
One of them Mexican towns.
You are under oath.
Now, did you marry Frankie Lymon
in either Mexicali or Tijuana?
Yes.
Your honor,
I have obtained certifications
of nonexistence of marriage
for frank Lymon and Zola Taylor.
One from Tijuana, Mexico,
one from Mexicali, Mexico.
I don't care what you think you have,
I married Frankie, and she knows I married Frankie.
I even showed her my ring.
You lying.
Miss thing did come to my house, just like she said,
but she was the one running around like a wild banshee,
not me!
What the hell is going on?
Frankie said I could stay.
Mmm.
Frankie said?
Yes. What part of "Frankie said"
don't you understand?
The "Frankie" or the "said"?
You crazy.
What part of "get out" don't you understand?
The "get" or the "out"?
Oh, god.
You Zola Taylor!
I'm a big fan of yours!
Man, you're incredible!
Well, fan your ass on out of here.
I don't need this shit, ok? Forget you.
And you can take your little funky attitude
on back to wherever you just came from, Missy.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Are you putting on my clothes?
Your clothes?
See, I can see why Frankie is sick
of this whole bullshit LA thing.
You know,
I got every Platters 45 you ever recorded.
♪ Only you... ♪
Ok, great. Where is my husband?
Your husband?
Yes, my husband.
Where is he?
See, that wig you got on must be too tight
if you think that Frankie is your husband,
because he is my husband.
I got that third album, too, wi...
Shut up!
Your husband?
Yes, he is my husband.
Frankie, is my husband.
Where is he?
Frankie! Frankie!
Frankie, who are these people?
I just saw you on hullabaloo, man.
Talking 'bout the abc's.
Who is this guy?
You don't know who these people are?
You went and got yourself married?
I told you not to invite any company here.
L.A.P.D.
When was you gonna tell me?
I said no strangers.
I have an insane,
nappy-headed black woman in my house.
No, I know her. Put the phone down.
I'm gonna show you. I'm sick of this!
Aah!
Wait a minute!
Wait, wait, wait!
Get over here!
I'm sick of your...
Oh!
Oh, shit.
My wig! No!
♪ I got her hair ♪
♪ Zola ain't got no hair ♪
Then when I asked Frankie about it,
he told me that Elizabeth had broken into the house...
What?
...and told me that she was married to Frankie
just to hurt my feelings.
And I believed him because he was my husband.
And if he wasn't my husband,
why in the hell would I have trusted him
with my most prized possession?
My house.
Come on, now, Z.
Four months on the road over in Asia?
It's gonna feel like forever.
Frankie,
you're gonna be just fine.
Can't they give you a break or something,
so you can come home and...
Baby. Baby, listen...
Take this, ok?
There's enough money here
to pay for the mortgage, the bills, everything.
Zola, you know I don't like taking money from you.
Baby, it's our money.
How am I supposed to remember all this?
I wrote it down, ok? You'll find it.
Are you sure you'll come back?
I'll be back.
You'll find time for a break, right?
It's gonna go by in no time.
Frankie and I weren't in touch
until about five months later.
One day I called
and my phone was disconnected,
so I asked my sister
if she would go over and see what was going on.
And when she picked me up from lax,
she told me
that Frankie had had some woman at my house
and that a neighbor had to call the police
because of all the arguing and fighting going on.
And I knew exactly who that woman was, too.
And then my sister told me
that I couldn't go home,
'cause I didn't have one.
Frankie.
Oh, Frankie.
Frankie!
Frankie, you fucking son of a bitch!
Frankie!
Everything I'd worked for...
Gone.
Everything.
When I went to the bank,
there was no money, either.
I tried to call Frankie in New York,
but his numbers were all disconnected.
Then I heard he had been drafted into the army.
I had nowhere to go,
so I had to move in with my sister.
It was a real nice house.
And I'm real sorry about it. I am.
But I swear to you, Zola, I never went back up there.
It's been 18 years.
You'd think I'd be through with all that by now.
State your name and address for the records.
Emira Eagle Lymon.
2110 Clairview Drive,
Augusta, Georgia.
Mrs. Lymon,
could you state your educational background
for the record, please?
After high school,
I attended Morris Brown College
for about a year.
Then Albany State College,
Augusta College, Plaine College.
And I've done studies at Savannah State College,
as well as the University of Georgia.
Do you hold any degrees?
Is the pope an old white man?
I have a bachelor's degree in social studies
as well as a bachelor's degree in education.
Now, with all your accreditations
and degrees,
how did you come to meet Frankie Lymon?
He marched
right into my bathroom.
I was getting out of the tub,
and he said...
Looking good, doll.
And I said...
Aah! Get out!
Go! Get out!
Hold up, Emira. You know who this is?
I don't care who he is!
It's Frankie Lymon, the singer.
Tell him to sing his behind on out!
Wait, wait, wait. No disrespect, ma'am.
Eddie said I could grab a beer from the fridge.
I was only looking for the kitchen.
Are there usually toilets in the kitchen?
There was a cockiness about him, you know?
A bravado.
And he was so cute...
In a real street sort of way.
Let me help you there.
Shit.
Ohh.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean that. Just wanted to help out.
They're oatmeal.
I made them myself.
Em's a great cook.
She oughta be owning a restaurant
instead of teaching crumb-crushers.
Mmm. I love oatmeal cookies.
They're my favorite.
Uh, look, I really wanna apologize
for barging in on you.
I didn't mean to walk in and to see what I...
Wait, let me introduce y'all formally.
Uh, Frankie, this is Emira Eagle,
my fiancée's sister.
Emira, this is Frankie Lymon.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too, Frankie.
After that, Frankie kept showing up...
Emira. Frankie.
...and showing off.
They're beautiful. Thank you.
Well, I was hoping I could walk you home again.
Oh. All right.
He was just incredibly sweet,
a perfect gentleman.
Never made a pass or came on strong again.
And he didn't curse around me.
Hey, Frankie.
Hey, Emira.
I brought you a present.
Where'd you find the puppy?
At the pound.
Can't resist him, huh?
Oh, it is hard. He's so cute.
Mmm. What's smelling so good?
Chicken and gravy.
Pecan pie.
You hungry?
You know, Eddie was right.
You sure can cook.
Thanks.
The Greens are from my garden.
We would've had carrots,
but the rabbits had a feast this week.
Yeah?
Well, um, I could make a net box for you,
if you like.
Really?
For a city boy,
he was pretty handy with a hammer...
Just right at home gardening and working in the earth.
Gardening!
A hammer?
Frankie wouldn't know a hammer
if it hit him in the head.
Please, Peter, object to something,
'cause gardening?
She got to be lying.
Then one day he just floored me.
Oh, man.
That was such a good movie.
Yeah. This way.
Wow.
Um, Emira...
I wrote something for you.
Really?
Yeah.
I hope you like it.
Uh, don't laugh.
All right.
Here goes.
"The wonder of you fills me up,
"takes me to your depths,
"and I bare my soul to you,
"o cherished queen of Sheba.
"When you smile,
you give light."
"When you speak..."
"You give life."
"And when you leave,
you take my love."
I fell in love at that moment.
I-it's not finished.
I still have some more work...
Oh, I love it.
I love it. It's great.
Next day, we got engaged,
and about a month later, we got married.
Thank you. Thank you.
Don't look.
Oh. Oh, right, right. I won't look.
I mean, until you tell me...
When I should look.
Ready?
It's ok.
♪ Play your harp ♪
♪ Hallelujah ♪
♪ Play your harp ♪
♪ Hallelujah ♪
♪ David ♪
♪ Was a shepherd boy ♪
♪ Killed Goliath ♪
♪ And satisfied god ♪
♪ Play your harp ♪
♪ Hallelujah ♪
I prayed that Frankie was happy with me,
but every now and then,
I'd just catch him in a place
that I knew my love couldn't heal...
♪ Play your harp ♪
And I'd feel helpless.
♪ Hallelu... ♪
♪ Ja-aah-aah! ♪
Then one day...
♪ Baby ♪
♪ Everything is all right ♪
♪ Uptight ♪
♪ Out of sight... ♪
Come on.
What are you doing?
I wanna see you dance.
Come on. Get up. Dance.
I don't know how to dance.
You don't know how to... Let me show you.
This way. That.
Put your hips into it.
♪ Everything is all right ♪
♪ Uptight ♪
♪ Out of sight ♪
Come on, turn around.
♪ Everything is all right ♪
♪ Uptight ♪
Ha ha ha!
Frank G. Lymon.
Yes.
Come with us.
For what? What's the problem?
Absent without leave.
Wait. There must be some misunderstanding.
Frankie, wait.
No misunderstanding.
Wait. What's wrong?
Listen, there's some misunderstanding.
Get in the back of the Jeep.
Wait. Where you taking him?
It's ok. It's ok.
I'll handle this, all right?
Just go back in the house.
He had been awol for four months,
and he was dishonorably discharged.
Mrs. Lymon,
can you tell us
how long you were married to Frankie?
I'm still married to Frankie.
Thank you, ma'am.
No further questions, your honor.
All right,
we'll take our lunch recess
and resume again at 1:30.
Thank you.
Prissy little thing, ain't she?
Mm-hmm.
Doesn't seem like Frankie's type.
Seem like anything in a dress
was Frankie's type.
Bringing a book to lunch.
Shit, she should've brought a damn hairdresser.
Ooh!
That was a good one.
Hmm.
Aw, Zola.
You know what I'm thinking?
I'm thinking 50% of something
is sure better than 100% of nothin'.
Look, wait, wait. Check it out.
If I win, we split it 50-50.
You win, same thing.
Are you trying to get in cahoots with me?
Yeah.
'Cause I know I was with Frankie,
and I know you was with Frankie.
But her?
She was with Frankie, too?
Deal?
Deal.
What do you mean you made a deal?
Mr. Markowitz.
No, because it's unconscionable
for you to cut a deal and not include me.
Mr. Markowitz!
I'm sorry.
Is our little hearing interrupting you?
I apologize, your honor.
Your cross, please.
Behave.
Uh, miss Eagle,
when was the last time you saw Frankie Lymon?
This is my favorite.
Little Laura made this one for me...
You know, from my second grade class?
Oh, Frankie, there's the door.
Put the, uh... this one up, too.
Yeah!
Postman!
Got a package for Frankie Lymon.
Oh, all right.
Sign right there, bro. You Frankie Lymon?
Yeah.
The singer?
Yeah.
For real?
Yeah.
Oh, man, wait till I tell my wife.
I thought you was dead.
Man, we used to dance to your stuff all the time.
Man, you great. You're fantastic.
Have a happy holiday. God bless you.
Frankie Lymon.
I delivered a package to Frankie Lymon.
Ha ha! Wow.
Merry Christmas.
I know you don't understand this music business,
but you're in school, and you're a teacher.
You know...
No, Frankie. I understand.
Ok. Ok.
Oh, wait, wait, wait.
Your book.
Yeah.
Your poetry book.
Here.
Oh, great.
I'm so happy you understand
that this is what I gotta do, you know?
It's my life.
Frankie!
Your lunch.
Oh! My lunch. Yeah. All right.
And, uh, I want you to make me a pecan pie,
so when I get back
I can have something nice for dessert.
Ok.
All right.
I been thinking...
Let's start a family, you know?
I mean, we got such a good life here.
We should share it with somebody.
I love you.
Mmm. I love you, too.
Gotta go.
But you think about a family, all right?
Ok.
I'll miss you!
I'll miss you, too. I'll be back soon.
Ok.
Call me when you get there, ok?
All right.
That was the last time I saw him...
Alive.
About a week later,
Frankie's brother called me
to tell me that Frankie had overdosed.
No further questions, your honor.
Do you think we could take an hour's recess,
please, ma'am?
All right, Mr. Grahme.
Emira...
Look, just let me talk to you for a second.
Emira!
Emira... Emira, wait!
Wasn't it enough
I couldn't have him in life?
Can't I at least have him in death?
No!
None of us can.
That flat-footed little weirdo
played all of us.
He sure did.
Why don't we go have a drink?
That's a good idea.
Come on.
But I don't drink.
Well, honey, you about to start.
You can have an iced tea or something.
You don't have to drink.
That lying, no-good, no-bill-paying,
house-losing bigamist!
Please. A trigamist.
Who gardens, no less.
Honey, come on. Frankie and flowers?
Gimme a break.
I don't even know what I saw in that little...
It wasn't like he was some bronze Adonis
or some shit.
I thought he was talented.
Ok, he could sing.
He could sing me
right out of my panties.
I got to give it up for that.
The boy was a good fuck.
Ohh, come on, Emira.
Now, you know you got that rock of Gibraltar.
Come on now!
You guys are talking about my husband.
Your husband? Your husband?
Please.
He was all of our husbands.
But I just don't understand.
How could he write me those beautiful love poems,
knowing he was still married to at least one of you?
Come on now.
That was Frankie being Frankie.
Amen.
Frankie just...
Needed something different
all the time.
Something different.
My god, look at us.
Could we be more different?
I mean, look at you.
You're a glamorous singer.
I'm just a Southern schoolteacher.
And, you, Elizabeth, look at you.
I mean, you...
I'm not sure what to think of you.
I mean, no disrespect. It's just that...
What did Frankie see in you?
Ooh.
Girl, now, what you talking about?
Shoot, back in the day,
I was a sho'nuff fine foxy thing.
Tell her, Zola. You was there. Tell her.
I was there and...
She was all right.
No, you didn't.
But foxy?
You were more poodley.
Forget y'all. Whatever.
Hey.
Maybe there were three separate Frankies,
and each of us got a piece.
I think Frankie was like that broken record.
Maybe that's what happened that last day.
It got so painful...
He couldn't put himself back together.
I just wish we would've been there
to save Frankie from himself that day.
Girl, you don't know how many times
I tried to save Frankie over the years.
Shoot, he wore me out.
It just couldn't be done.
I wonder who this next surprise witness is.
Better not be another woman.
Hey, how you doing?
All right.
Frankie Lymon here to see Morris Levy.
Do you have an appointment?
Uh, no. Uh, not... not actually.
Uh, I'm an old friend.
He knows me, you know?
Uh-huh.
Mr. Levy?
A Mr. Frankie Lemon is here to see you.
No, no, no. Frankie Lymon.
Get rid of him.
Hey, Morris! Long time no see.
Excuse me!
You ain't got a minute to talk to an old buddy
who's made you a couple million bucks?
Hey, Frankie, your last album was eight years ago,
so don't pull the "old friend" bullshit on me.
Now, what can I do for you?
Look, I'm glad you asked.
All right, I'm gonna be straight with you, Morris.
I'm ready to get back out there.
Now, I went down south for a while, and I got married,
but I've still been writing and still singing, man,
and people still seem to know who I am.
Jeez, where are the violins?
No, you don't understand. I still can do the sp...
Well, I can't do the splits right now,
but I'm telling you, I still got it.
Still got it? Yeah.
Who the fuck cares, you still got it?
In case you don't know it, doo-wop is dead.
The Beatles stomped it out, Motown kicked it out,
and Hendrix took it someplace else.
Now get out of my office.
No, no, wait, man. Listen.
Let me just do a demo or something.
Why don't you call one of your cronies up and...
And what?
Tell them I got a blackballed junkie
in my office looking for a comeback?
Hold on now, Morris.
You're taking it too far now, ok?
I'm not a junkie any...
I don't shoot up, man. I'm clean.
Please! You shoot up,
and you're a no-show at gigs.
Hey, only an asshole takes a chance on a junkie.
I told you I'm not a fucking junkie!
Didn't you just hear me?!
Do you know who the fuck you're talking to, huh?
You see what I mean?! This is why
you're not booked at the Orpheum tonight!
You understand that? You're a crazed maniac.
Look, Morris...
You're not a cute kid anymore, Frankie.
You're a loser, you're a has-been,
and you're a fuckin' drug addict!
Now get your fuckin' ass out of here.
You're fuckin' dead!
Get security up here.
Out!
♪ That you do ♪
♪ Oh, you're my dream come true ♪
♪ My one and only you ♪
This guy is so special...
He has got to be touched by god.
Marry me, Zola.
What you talking about, Frankie?
Frankie.
You will always be tied down to me.
♪ You do ♪
♪ And fill my heart ♪
♪ With love ♪
♪ For only you ♪
♪ Only you ♪
♪ Can make this change in me ♪
♪ For it's true ♪
♪ You see ♪
♪ I'm wearing my heart ♪
Beautiful! Beautiful!
Baby, you are one fine thing.
♪ Oh, you're my dream come true ♪
♪ My one and only you ♪
♪ You keep a-knockin', but you can't come in ♪
♪ Keep a-knockin', but you can't, whoo! ♪
♪ Keep a-knockin', but you can't come in ♪
♪ Come back tomorrow night and try it again ♪
Oh!
Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
Hey!
Whoo!
Come on!
Ow! Ow!
Ow! Ow! Ow!
Next time, you better have all my money.
Well, well...
If it isn't Frankie Lymon.
Long time no see.
If it isn't Frankie Lymon.
Hey, Coop.
I knew you'd come back.
What's up?
How's life been treating you?
Let's take a walk.
♪ Ooh, why ♪
♪ Why do fools fall in love? ♪
♪ Lord ♪
♪ Take my hand ♪
♪ Deliver me ♪
♪ And let me stand ♪
♪ I ♪
♪ I get so tired ♪
♪ I ♪
♪ Am weak ♪
♪ I ♪
♪ Am worn ♪
♪ Through ♪
♪ The stars ♪
♪ Lord, here's my hand ♪
♪ Precious ♪
♪ Lord ♪
♪ And lead ♪
♪ Lead me ♪
♪ Lord, lead me home ♪
I paid for Frankie's funeral.
So sad.
He was so talented.
Mr. Levy, do you know what this is?
Yeah. Sure. It's why do fools fall in love.
Oh, uh, Mr. Levy, whose names appear as songwriters on this?
Lymon and Levy.
Uh-huh. Well, how did this come about,
you writing the song with Frankie?
I don't understand.
Did you two sit down together at the piano,
uh, he plays some music...
No, no, no. You get together,
and you kind of put the words
and the music together. You get a beat going.
I mean, I'm not saying
that I'm writing songs like Chopin.
Like Chopin.
That's very funny. Very funny, Mr. Levy.
It's not quite as funny as this, though.
Now, whose names are listed as songwriters on this record?
It's "Lymon, Santiago, and Goldner."
Uh-huh. As in Herman Santiago,
the original lead singer of The Teenagers?
What's the name of this song?
Why do fools fall in love.
So, in fact, Mr. Levy, you didn't write the song.
You just slapped your name on it
so you could collect songwriter royalties
and copyright entitlements.
Listen, counselor, I'm a businessman.
It was just business.
Mr. Levy, how much money have you made over the years
from the song why do fools fall in love?
Who knows?
Try $4 million, Mr. Levy.
$4 million!
Shh.
And how much of that money, Mr. Levy,
have you tried to pay to Frankie Lymon's estate?
I got accountants for that kind of stuff.
The answer is zero, Mr. Levy. Nothing.
Not one single penny, Mr. Levy!
No further questions, your honor.
Wait a second. Wait a second.
You're all acting
like I was the only one doing business that way.
Everyone was doing it. Every record producer,
every owner of a label, every promoter.
It was standard industry practice.
All right, Mr. Levy, that's enough.
And another thing, there would be no Frankie Lymon
if it wasn't for me.
I discovered him first.
I invested in him first.
I promoted him first.
And you're sitting here talking like I'm the one
who put that smack into his veins.
All right, Mr. Levy, I said that is enough.
I just wanted you to know...
Mr. Levy, you are excused.
Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
All right, we're going to adjourn for today.
We'll reconvene tomorrow morning at 9:00
at which time I will render my decision.
Thank you.
Scotch and soda.
Strawberry Margarita.
Iced tea, please.
Long island iced tea.
$4 million. Do y'all believe that shit?
Mm-mmm.
Shit, when Frankie was alive,
he didn't have two nickels to rub together.
I heard that.
Money like that I only read about
in fortune magazine.
You read fortune?
Yes. It's got forecasts, futures, you know, stock tips.
Oh, thank you.
Mmm.
Mmm. Mmm.
That is delicious.
That long island iced tea flavoring is tasty.
Ooh, excuse me.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Ooh.
You know, I wish we could rethink this whole court case
and refuse to let our lives be dictated
by Morris and Frankie and all these vultures.
Honey, I wish we could tell our lawyers
to kiss our big butts.
Well, here is to telling all of our lawyers
to kiss our big butts.
Big butts!
Juicy booties.
Ooh, 'cause I know my butt has gotten a little big.
But you know what, ladies?
Why don't we tell all of them where to go
and walk out of here friends?
Baby, I could be a much better friend
with 4 million bucks.
Wait. If we do your plan, we can all...
What plan?
What are you talking about?
Wasn't it you that said 50% of something
is better than no percent of nothing?
Then you split your 50% with her.
What about you? It's gonna be 30-30-30.
Excuse me.
Excuse me!
What are y'all talking about?
'Cause whatever it is, it sounds illegal to me.
No. No.
It's not illegal.
It is not illegal.
It sounds illegal.
We can do what we want.
It was her idea.
It sounds illegal to me.
Fuck it, all right?
Look, here's the deal: Whoever won, me and her,
we was gonna split it 50-50.
Now we can cut you in.
We don't need to leave here
until we can make a deal to get paid.
Come on, Emira.
That is a million- three-hundred gs each.
Each?
Each. Each.
Well, I could use a new car.
You could get yourself a Cadillac, girl.
Brougham!
Ooh, well, that is Kool and The Gang!
Yeah!
I knew we could get her.
♪ Met someone who knocked you back off your heels ♪
♪ Goody goody ♪
♪ You met someone, and now you know how it feels ♪
What was at issue in this case
was determining which of the three alleged widows
is the lawful surviving spouse of Frankie Lymon.
Widow number one, Elizabeth Waters,
claimed that she and Frankie Lymon
lived as common-law husband and wife
and that they were married in a civil ceremony
in the state of Virginia,
and all of this, apparently,
while she was still married to someone else.
Now, widow number two, Zola Taylor,
claims that she married Frankie Lymon
in either Tijuana or Mexicali,
depending upon which day of the week it is.
But, unfortunately, miss Taylor was unable
to provide any substantive proof
of either her marriages or her divorces.
Which brings us to widow number three,
Emira Eagle,
who was married to Frankie in a church ceremony
replete with white wedding gown
and a honeymoon suite in Augusta, Georgia,
and all of this would have been well and good,
except for the fact that New York state
upholds the Pennsylvania law
which recognizes common-law marriage
as legal and binding.
And since Elizabeth continued to live with Frankie
after her divorce from Charles Phillips
and based on the statutes... Cross vs. Cross,
commonwealth vs. Highland,
and Skinner vs. Skinner...
Both the common-law marriage and the Virginia marriage
were indeed valid,
and since neither marriage was dissolved
at the time of Frankie's death,
it is the determination of this court
that the lawful, surviving spouse of frank Joseph Lymon
is Elizabeth Waters Lymon.
Yeah! Yes!
I told you!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
We did it!
Aah!
Stop! See, she said that we won,
so that mean that y'all lost,
so talk to the hand,
'cause me and my counselor got to go.
What?!
You Jheri curl-wearing, ghetto bitch!
I'm gonna whup your ass!
Order in the court.
Elizabeth won
and told the rest of us exactly where to go.
She got us.
But, you know, hey, I didn't really care,
because I was tired of the courts and the lawyers
and the whole thing anyway.
I wasn't having it.
I filed suit in the U.S. court of appeals.
It was a mess. It took years.
But they ruled in my favor.
So, you see,
the schoolteacher won Frankie's estate after all.
But the final tee-hee-hee was on her.
See, Frankie's estate wasn't nowhere near no $4 million.
And after all miss thing's
lawyers' legal fees and expenses,
she only ended up with 15 grand.
The same amount
that Morris had offered her from jump street.
Now, ain't that nothin'?
Well, honey, I could've told them
wasn't none of them gonna get no money!
Ain't nobody ever gave us nothing!
♪ Whoo ♪
♪ Hoo-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Goody goody for me ♪
♪ And I hope you're satisfied, you rascal, you ♪
♪ Ohh ♪
♪ Oh, you lie awake just singin' the blues all night ♪
♪ Goody goody ♪
♪ So you think that love's a barrel of dynamite ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh, hooray and hallelujah ♪
♪ You had it comin' to ya ♪
♪ Goody goody for him ♪
♪ Goody goody goody for me ♪
♪ Your love has been denied you ♪
♪ You've been taken for a ride ♪
♪ And I hope you're satisfied, you rascal, you ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Packed up all the pain ♪
♪ Left the tears outside my door ♪
♪ And I'm not gonna be the one who's left ♪
♪ Out in the rain no more ♪
♪ I see it so clearly ♪
♪ The writing is on the wall ♪
♪ Tellin' me I'm gonna be all right after all ♪
♪ Now, I've opened my eyes ♪
♪ And I'm finally wise ♪
♪ No, no ♪
♪ No fool no more ♪
♪ No fool ♪
♪ No more ♪
♪ Not like before ♪
♪ Not the way ♪
♪ It used to be ♪
♪ No fool no more ♪
♪ No tears this time ♪
♪ 'Cause this time, I'm wise ♪
♪ To the game that's been goin' on ♪
♪ And I'm not gonna be no fool no more ♪
♪ I'm gonna pull my heart together ♪
♪ Gonna leave the past behind ♪
♪ Gonna get to something better ♪
♪ Put you out of my mind, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ I'm gonna be strong ♪
♪ I'm gonna be fine ♪
♪ I just want you to know ♪
♪ That I'm not gonna be no fool no more ♪
♪ No fool ♪
♪ No fool no more ♪
♪ Not like before, yeah ♪
♪ Not the way ♪
♪ It used to be ♪
♪ Ooh hoo ooh ♪
♪ Baby, baby, baby ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh wah-ah ooh wah ♪
♪ Why do fools fall in love? ♪
♪ You want to be the one I call on, right? ♪
♪ You want to be the one to tell me you're so right ♪
♪ Well, y'all cats is all alike ♪
♪ Let me say this here ♪
♪ This year, 'bout this miss here ♪
♪ This clique won't drip tears ♪
♪ But you can kick the with wick ♪
♪ This fit, gonna leave if he don't kick his shit ♪
♪ And who gonna get rid of this fool? ♪
♪ Who? I ain't dead ♪
♪ What you do is choose to disappear ♪
♪ My man ♪
♪ He had game, he gave me things ♪
♪ And he bought me gifts ♪
♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪
♪ He let me drive his wheels ♪
♪ And so I trusted him, I trusted him ♪
♪ All above ♪
♪ Why do fools fall in love? ♪
♪ Why does the rain fall from above? ♪
♪ Why do fools fall in love? ♪
♪ Why do they fall in love? ♪
♪ Tell me ♪
♪ Why does the rain fall from above? ♪
♪ Why do fools fall in love? ♪
♪ Why do they fall in love? ♪