Ray

Always remember your promise to me.

Never let nobody or nothing turn you into no cripple.

All right!

Rest stop, 45 minutes. Come on, folks. We gotta move.

We leave at 2:45 p.m. on the dot. Can't be late.

Hot meals and bathrooms inside.

There's a window out back for y'all to buy sandwiches.

And I suggest you make good use of them outhouses.

Ain't nothing but bushes for you in the Carolinas.

Sir.

- Can I help you, sir? - Yes, sir.

Seattle?

- Who you riding with? - Nobody. Just me.

Boy, I can't take responsibility...

for some blind nigger travelling 3, 500 miles alone.

I paid for this here ticket...

and it says that you have to take me to Seattle.

Don't you be smarting off to me, boy.

With all due respect, sir, I earned the right.

I may have left my eyes on Omaha Beach...

but I ain't asking no charity from Uncle Sam.

I got a job waiting for me in Seattle.

- You were in Normandy? - Shuttling troopers to the beach.

We took a direct hit.

I'm sorry, son.

I'll keep an eye on you myself. Come on. Take a seat in the back.

What the hell do you think you're doing?

Don't get your feathers all ruffled.

I met this ol' boy over at the O.C. at Clarkfield...

and he plays a mean jazz piano.

I don't care if he whistles Dixie out his ass.

He ain't gonna do it here.

Sir.

- Boy, are you blind? - Yes, sir. Since I was seven.

Well, let me help you out then.

This is a country band. We don't play no boogie-woogie.

Yes, I understand. I love country music.

All right, go on. Tell me.

What is it you love about country music?

I love the stories.

You know, about falling in love and having love knock you around...

and the pressures of the world on you.

It makes you feel small. You want to give your soul to God.

You might as well. Your ass belongs to Him.

- Boy, are you sure you blind? - Last time I checked.

Okay. Come on in.

Billy, I think you're outvoted.

Til, one hint of trouble, and your blind nigra's out of here.

Damn!

Here.

I'm gonna have to put some glasses...

before he scares somebody half to death.

Seattle, Washington, folks. Change bus here for all points north:

Bellingham, Mount Vernon. Vancouver, Canada.

That's Diz. Emanon.

Yeah. But what's it spell backwards?

Come on, man. Why don't you give me something difficult? "No Name."

Say, daddy-o, what ax you play? Piano.

Just blew in from Tampa, Florida.

Me and my partner, Gossie McGee, want to fatten up our style.

Cop some licks from some more experienced cats. You dig?

You know what?

Why don't you let me take you inside? Show you around.

All right. Perfect gentleman.

This is just like my place.

- So, what's your name? - Ray Robinson.

I'm Quincy Jones.

Gerry! This here's my man, Ray.

He's here to see Gossie McGee. I figured I'll show him inside--

Don't mess with me, Q. He can come in, but not you.

Vice is on my ass for letting you underage kids in.

- Get out of here. - He's blind! I gotta show him in.

Get out. Jive-ass.

Ray Robinson, when am I gonna hear you play, baby?

That may cost you.

Welcome, all you cool cats and fine felines.

You've come to the place where the sophisti-cats and hipsters...

hang their bebop hats.

So snuggle up and come near...

for tonight is Talent Night at The Rocking Chair.

Let's hear it for Dancin' Al!

Gossie's been catting around...

with one of my waitresses since he got here.

He never told me that his partner was a blind 'Bama boy.

Marlene, Demurs just called. Thurmond's sick.

- What about Sassy? - Flat tyre.

Okay, 'Bama. Why don't you get on up there and show me what you got?

I'm not prepared to do my thing right now, tonight--

This is the only audition you'll get.

So do it, or you and Gossie can haul your asses back down South.

Here. Smoke some of this.

This ain't no tobacco, man.

Hold it in, it'll calm you down.

All right, Oberon. Get on up there and introduce him.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, 'Bama. Let's go.

Now, I got something special for all you satin dolls.

And I don't mean Oberon's big thunder.

That's for another show.

We got some new blood for you.

Straight off the bus from Florida...

I give you Ray "Don't Call Me Sugar" Robinson!

- How y'all doing tonight? - Better than you!

- Relax, Ray. - I got it.

What do y'all want to hear?

How about some Nat King Cole?

Y'all like Nat King Cole?

'Bama ain't bad. I'd say he saved our asses.

What the hell is Ray doing up there?

Auditioning for you, Gossie.

He ain't no good without me.

How'd you and the 'Bama like to do a week here at The Chair?

I know a good bass player. A nice jazz trio could score big...

with the right manager.

Manager?

Don't be so small-minded. You know you've got to give to get.

What exactly do I have to give?

Twenty-five percent. But I'll be getting you other gigs.

All right, next question: What do I get?

What do you need?

Double scale as leader, plus 10%.

What about the 'Bama?

He's about as green as a blade of grass.

I can handle him.

Yeah, he's green.

You don't need to worry about a hotel room for the 'Bama.

He can flop at my place.

You don't never change.

Ray, you coming back to bed?

I'm getting some water.

I can see that, but mama ain't finished yet.

For the first time anywhere, let's hear it for The McSon Trio!

When you coming out? In a minute.

Mama's got some more blackberry cobbler for you, baby.

Damn.

If you're gonna send us out on tour, we're gonna need more than $5 a day.

Why can't we get paid after each gig?

Because you'll spend everything you make.

The club sends the checks to me, so as I can bank them.

I just want to see my own checks, that's all.

You don't see, Ray. You're blind, baby. Or did you forget?

Now, you want to go out on your own and see how well you do?

Where's Ray? He's in the back bedroom.

And wipe your feet

Six-nine, where you at?

Lionel Hampton just asked me to go on the road with him!

Sure he did. Then why you still here?

And dig this: His wife kicked me off the tour bus.

Told me to come back when I started shaving. You believe that?

Seven-oh, could you do me a favour and close that bag for me?

Why? You got two hands. Close it yourself.

I got two feet, too. Could you close it?

I got it.

Excuse me, sir!

Man, we're gonna be late.

I got to get my own place, Gossie.

Why? I mean, you got free rent right now.

Like hell it's free rent.

Come on, Ray. Why you gonna mess with a good thing?

All I'm saying is you keep laying that pipe with Marlene...

and she'll make us all rich.

Sir, excuse me!

Just back from their triumphant tour of the Yakima Valley...

The McSon Trio!

They'll be back right here, same time, same place, next week.

Baby, you sound more like Nat than the King himself.

What's your name? Ray Robinson.

I'm Jack Lauderdale, Swing Time Records.

Hey, Jack! How you doing, man?

How about us making a record together?

Hell, yeah! Let's do that.

Can I help you? I don't think so.

We're just talking a little business.

Then you need to talk to me, 'cause I'm his manager.

- Whichever way the wind blows. - It's blowing.

Jack Lauderdale, Swing Time Records.

Marlene Andres.

Gossie McGee.

Great set, baby. We're going to talk with Mr. Lauderdale.

Come on. I'm buying. I'm coming to talk to him.

You are doing a fabulous job!

Let's talk to him about this record.

We're gonna let Marlene handle that. You get Oberon to call you a cab.

Great set, Ray.

Goss?

Hey, daddy-o, want a smoke?

I got some gage, fresh off the boat. It's clean and seedless.

So that's how it is?

You keep me high while they talk the business?

I ain't the one playing you, man.

Oberon, listen....

Marlene and Gossie are the ones running the game on you, Ray.

What?

They sliced up the pie the first night you played.

35% off the top. Plus Gossie's double scale as leader.

Leader? If anybody's leading the band, I'm the one that's the leader.

Forget the bo' humps. I'm gonna go my own way.

Who's gonna book your gigs? Marlene's got you locked up.

And she ain't gonna give up her golden goose.

Ray Robinson, you are fantastic.