American Soul

Previously on American Soul...

You hear that, Mikey? You're short.

A lot of people

loving Don tonight.

This is Private Barker. He served with your dad.

He'll be staying with us

a few days in the garage.

Your family will be protected.

Simone is a gift.

Almost as good as you were.

-How old are you? -I'll be 17 in a few months.

After today, I realized that I'm running out of time.

I want another shot. I want to dance.

Are you incompetent or just plain stupid?

You will never speak to me like that again.

Hey, aren't you Frederick Douglass?

I've been watching the progress

of our people, and I'm quite familiar with the natural.

And I'm also aware that it is worn as an outward expression

of pride and dignity.

-So, haven't you forgotten...? - Right.

My Afro Sheen comb-easy and hair spray for sheen.

You know, I can dig this getting my fro together.

-I know what you're thinking, Don. - Huh?

Marcus Garvey wasn't available.

108 years of emancipation, George,

and this is what we're worth?

-Oh, save the speech, Don. - George, you know what would happen

if I put this shit on the air?

Now, don't you mean if we put this shit on?

Mr. Cornelius, we're on in ten.

-Energy up, people. Don, I need a word. - Later.

I don't know what surprises me more, the fact that

you made this, or that you can't see how ignorant it is.

"Don't do it. Stay away. It's a minstrel show."

Look, the boys begged me not to back you, Don.

So get down from that high horse and realize

you are not the only one with skin in the game.

But it's my face out there, George.

It wouldn't be out there if it wasn't for me.

It's dumb, shameful and we're cutting it.

It's fun, educational and we are running it.

I'm front-loading every segment I can,

-but if Richard doesn't show... - He will show.

-And if he's not... - He will be here, Tessa.

We've got all the pictures we need, Don.

-Time to finish our sit-down. - Tessa Lorraine, meet Jean Jones.

Jean is with Right On! magazine.

And all I need is one more hour

of this man's time and I'm done.

Ms. Jones is here to interview me for the December issue.

He's on the cover, and I'm on the clock.

Shall we?

Tessa, could you please show Ms. Jones around the set?

-I won't be long. - Of course.

Right this way.

I've seen the set!

The seat of power.

-I like it. - And it likes you.

Mm.

Contracts for the bus tour.

Three acts, five cities.

The other five cities, you're on your own.

Membership has its privileges.

Eh, don't let it go to your head.

What are you doing later?

You, if the mood strikes.

I'm watching Ali/Mathis tonight at the club.

-Join me and we can make a night of it.

You want to show me a good time, you got to do better than that.

Call me when he's fighting Frazier.

Here's my card. I'm telling you, Willie, it's gonna be like

two giants fighting over the beanstalk, baby,

and the golden goose is coming home.

In the center, these two on an angle.

How difficult is that? Hey, hey, hey.

Careful with that case.

Champagne's worth more than your house.

-So why you giving it away? - Thing about being boss, Willie,

the richer you get, the more you get for free.

-You know him? - No.

What can I do for you, Mr. Taylor?

Marlo, please. I'm an investigator.

I'm looking for some answers.

Who's cutting your check?

Shantel Lewis, Michael Lewis's wife.

Mikey? I ain't seen him in a minute.

Well, he's officially missing,

and one of your associates is a prime suspect.

Keep talking, I'll keep listening.

Herschel Green. Mr. Lewis owed him a small fortune.

It's no secret what kind of man Herschel is.

Yeah, I think you should check who you're talking to.

Herschel's my boss.

Your problems with Herschel are also no secret.

You scratch my back, I'll massage yours.

Tell Mrs. Lewis I'm sure Mikey will be home soon.

Sometimes a man just needs a little time to himself.

-What day is it? - Oh, heck nah. No, no.

Ma. Put-- co-- no.

Hey!

Yeah!

You're stupid.

Says the girl wearing a tiara.

Eh, it wasn't my plan.

You know what to do. Make a wish.

Okay.

-That one. - Oh, good job.

Okay. Okay. Okay.

-Happy birthday, baby. -Oh.

From... Daddy?

Aw. Okay.

Oh, I love this song.

- That's so cute. - That's beautiful.

Ma...

for Christmas.

So I thought...

"You belong on a Tarzan episode, not my TV.

"So take that Zulu dancing jigaboo shit back to Africa

before I hang you from a tree where you should be."

Don't imagine Dick Clark gets many letters like this.

Cost of being black in America.

How often do you receive these death threats?

Not often enough to stop.

Little Richard tonight.

Suddenly, you're the black Dick Clark.

-What changed? -Now that

-is a trade secret, Jean. -Speaking of secrets,

I hear Soul Train season two is on the horizon.

Well, that's news to me, but I'll damn sure take it.

Your wife Delores

played a major role in launching Soul Train Chicago.

-Why didn't she come to L.A.? -Now, Jean, is that something

that Right On! readers really want to hear?

- This is Don. - Don, it's Richie.

I've got a P-R-O-B-L-E-M problem, baby.

Richard, something tells me that you are not in the greenroom.

Greenroom, nah. Green cash call.

My friend, Rose, she's, uh, kicking me out,

and she's keeping my goods if I don't give her 500 bucks.

-And you're short. -Come on,

- you know Richie's good for it. - Richard!

Stop, girl! Yo, woman, stop playing!

Get the heck out of my house!

Where are you? I'll send someone.

706 Hawthorne.

This requires a personal touch-touch, you dig?

- I'm on my way. - No, I'm not kidding with you!

Get out!

Business before beauty, Jean.

-Sorry. -So am I.

I don't have enough material to write a story.

We don't finish today, it doesn't run.

We'll finish after the show. - No can do.

Either take me along, or you can kiss the cover

of Right On! adios.

After you.

All right, we'll call you.

If y'all don't have your five dollars out,

I'm sending you to the back of the line. Next!

My name is Violet Simms. I'm from Leimert Park,

and I'm the newest member of the Soul TrainGang, baby.

Well, damn. Well, I'm-a go ahead

and refund your five dollars now,

because this set can't take another earthquake!

-What do you think you're doing? -Just having a little fun.

-That's all. -So if I mocked you and made you pay for a chance

to get laughed at, you'd think that was fun?

Inside, every one of you. Now.

Break it up, guys. This is not an audition.

Sorry. Hey!

Fine.

I'm sorry about this.

That girl is one nerve away from being done.

Oh, no. You can't fire Flo.

She got mad moves, like James Brown

and Josephine Baker had a baby.

A cute old mean-ass baby.

What's your name?

I'm Violet. Violet Simms.

Well, Violet, I'm Tessa.

And it's not dancing, but your prize for winning today

-is being my assistant, if you want. -Shh-- I do!

This is the most unqualified I ever been for a job.

I accept.

Ah-- stay here.

Enjoy the leather seats.

Excuse me, slim.

-Is this 706 Hawthorne? -Don-Don, it's me.

Richard?

Sorry, cat. I didn't recognize you.

That's exactly what I'm saying.

Rose got me in a hostage mode.

My inner self is locked in that house, honey.

All right, well, let's go find it.

Okay, oh...

Richard, every minute you out here playing games

is costing me, so your girl better figure this shit out.

Oh, no, she's just a friend, Don.

Well, will this friend listen to reason?