Touched by an Angel

What is it again?

The blues.

And you sing them, right?

That's right.

If you've got soul, you sing the blues.

Anybody ever sing the yellows or the greens?

This would be one of those times

when you might want to just listen.

Leave that alone.

It's precious to someone.

That's Sam Brown.

He owns this club.

He always has.

He used to clean up in a very different way.

In its prime, this club would be

so jammed full of people

the police would come and thin out the crowd.

And then...

they'd hear the music and they'd pull up a chair

and sit down and listen.

All of that must have been a long time ago.

Well, times change.

Humans call it progress.

Sometimes, progress is progress.

But mostly it's just an excuse to tear something down.

Well, at least Sam is still here.

So far.

But he's older now and he's not very well.

But he's about to receive an important message.

What message?

Well, since it's his message

and not your message, Miss Wings,

I wouldn't worry about it.

You got your halo full

just trying to get him ready to receive it.

Hello!

Grandpa Sam?

Isaac!

Zach, Grandpa.

Zach.

Isaac, you're early.

I'm not early, I'm right on time.

You were supposed to meet me

at the airport, remember?

No.

Yeah, we talked about this last night.

We did?

All right, never mind.

You see, Grandpa, this is why

we can't have you live by yourself.

Today, you forget the airport.

Tomorrow, you forget to eat.

The next day, you take a yellow pill

instead of a blue one, and then we got big trouble.

You made it back for open-mike night, huh?

Monday. Right.

Good to see you, Isaac.

It's good to see you, too, Gramps.

Come on, let's get something to eat.

It-It's open-mike night, you know.

Yeah, I know.

Zach is a man with a mission.

If he completes his mission,

you won't be able to complete yours.

Preparing Sam for a message?

What did you say the message was again?

I didn't.

And don't try that on me, angel girl.

Just keep your heart straight and your eyes open

and you'll know exactly what to do.

Yes, ma'am.

There, uh... is one other thing, though.

You don't get stage fright, do you?

You lived in St. Louis long, Mr. Brown?

No, actually, I live in New York.

I'm just here for a week

helping my grandfather sell the place.

Oh, the bar is solid mahogany.

Imported from, um... somewhere, back in the '30s.

You're selling the place as is?

Everything.

Every bar stool, every fixture, sound system, the works.

You guys, uh, in the nightclub business?

Uh, no, we're in the parking lot business.

Oh, well...

this is a great location for a... parking lot.

Excuse me.

May I help you?

Oh, yes, thank you.

The agency sent me about the job.

Uh, why don't you gentlemen just look around.

I'll be with you in a minute.

Uh, I'm sorry.

There are no jobs here.

Um, we're closing the place down.

Oh...

Are you Mr. Sam Brown?

No, I'm Sam Brown.

Excuse me, gentlemen. I'm sorry.

The place doesn't open till 7:00.

Hello, Mr. Brown.

I'm Monica.

I'm here about the MC job.

Are you crazy, Grandpa?

You're not going to make enough to pay an MC.

Well, you can't have an open-mike night

without a Master of Ceremon... Mistress of Ceremonies.

Do you really need

an open-mike night at all?

We haven't missed a Monday in 40 years.

It's what's kept this place alive.

For heaven's sakes, you were born on open-mike night.

I really don't think...

I know that.

Other than that, you're a fine boy.

Have you met my grandson?

Not really.

Probably just as well.

Now, let's talk about the job.

Uh, excuse me.

Monica, is it?

Nothing personal,

but my grandfather and I need to talk business.

We are talking business.

I'm auditioning a new MC for open-mike night.

Fine.

Have it your way.

What's the point of having your own place

if you can't have things your own way?

That's what a place is for.

I have a feeling those men are here to buy me out.

Yes, sir, I do believe you're right.

Well, I'm not selling.

I know.

Club Indigo has seen better days,

but we're always one open-mike night away from coming back.

Besides, I'm not closing up until she tells me to.

"She"?

The Countess.

Now, come on. Up there

and show me what you can do.

Up where? On the stage.

On stage. I'm going to sit right here

and see how you look up there.

Now what do I do?

Well, go ahead, go ahead.

The mike is hot.

The mike is hot?

Yeah, yeah.

: That's funny.

I said the mike is hot, she pretends it really is.

Um...

What...?

Wh-What would you like me to do now?

Tell a joke.

A joke?

Just one. I can tell from just one joke.

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

Oh, you heard it already?

She's good.

One night with her

and the place will be so empty he'll have to sell.

That nervous act really plays.

Monica...

you got the job.

It all started in New York.

I used to go to all the jazz clubs on 52nd Street.

We used to call it 50-Two Street.

Let's see, there was

the Three Deuces, the Onyx, Eddy Condon's.

I used to play some myself, but not like those boys.

Oh, yeah, there was blues, jazz.

Anything with soul.

You know anything about soul?

A little.

Anyway, when I moved here, I brought the music with me.

Opened this place.

B.B. King and I used to sit at this very table

arguing about where to get the best clam sauce in Baltimore.

Isaac Hayes used to sit

on that very stool you're sitting on

and moan to me about woman trouble.

Left a pair of sunglasses

around here somewhere.

Sounds like all the greats have been through this place.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

There was always the music.

The music.

I-I used to have a cook who,

whenever the music got real hot,

he would rattle those pots and pans.

Wouldn't cook.

Couldn't cook much anyway,

but he sure could rattle those pots and pans.