Midas Man

The Cavern Club, Liverpool, 9th November 1961.

The moment my life changes forever, and everything suddenly becomes so clear.

But forgive me, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Let me set the scene.

1959.

This is where I report for duty every day.

A family store opened by my grandfather,

who arrived in this country with barely a word of English.

He left all this to my father who plans to leave it to me.

He doesn't love what I do with the window displays.

He says, "We're not a theatre, Brian. We're just selling them furniture."

I tell him, "Times are changing. Now we have to sell them the dream."

Robert, that is exactly what I want.

Trouble is, my dreams are just a little bit bigger than this shop window.

How long were you going to leave me out there?

It was a lovely service.

Only seems like yesterday that you and your brother were up there.

I was just telling Brian how well he's doing in the shop.

What did you expect? He's a star.

He sold a hall mirror

by telling a customer she looked beautiful in it.

The lad can sell.

Actually I sold two hall mirrors and a radiogram.

The apple never falls far from the tree.

Oh God forbid, you should encourage him.

He does. You both do.

But, ehm, as we're speaking about this,

I actually want to do something new.

Here we go again. I knew it was too good to be true.

You can't settle, can you?

Even after all those expensive private schools.

How many was it?

He learned to speak beautifully.

But you were happy when he said he wanted to be a dress designer.

Nothing wrong with that. He has the talent.

That's why he became an actor, or tried to.

Another meshugas. A 5-minute wonder.

Harry, he went to RADA.

Now he's finally found something that he's actually good at.

Daddy, if you just let me finish what I'm trying to say.

Speak!

That's what he's trying to do.

I want to do something different in the shop.

We already sell classical records.

But I want to sell more, more show tunes, more music that's popular now,

like Lonnie Donegan, Elvis Presley, and Frankie Vaughan.

I like him.

You know I love music,

and I know what young people are listening to now.

I mean, I'm already recommending records to customers

that we don't actually sell.

What?

That's my point exactly. We should be selling them.

That way, customers will come to us, instead of our competitors.

I think it's a wonderful idea.

Well, Harry?

So all the music sold will be down to you.

Yes.

- And you think you're ready for that? - I just need some more space.

I promise you won't regret it.

I better not.

Can we go now?

- I was waiting for you - Quiet, Queenie.

Show some respect.

In two years, I turned a shelf at the back of the store

into the talk of Liverpool

and one of the biggest record stores in the Northwest.

Thank you, Amelia.

Teenage girls, they'll tell you who's up and coming

and be the first to buy the record, and they'll attract the boys.

Some are serious about music. Some are just here for the girls.

The serious ones dream of being Britain's answer to Elvis.

As you can see.

Classical? That's more my scene.

Jazz? I'm working on that.

Show tunes, personal favourite and big business.

South Pacific is our top-selling album this year.

I'm going to wash that man right out of my hair.

Music isn't just what we listen to, it's who we are, who we love,

where we belong.

Any disc from anywhere in less than 5 days.

My big idea.

I've made it company policy and a matter of pride.

I was right about this "Johnny Remember Me",

300 copies and still selling like hotcakes.

When are you ever wrong, Mr Brian, huh?

I shall allow you to tell me.

Alastair Taylor, my right-hand man.

Tea? My office?

What's this in the order book?

"My Bonnie. Check back Monday."

It's out of Hamburg.

- I've called a few of the import agents. - And?

Well, there's a minimum order of 25,

and it's not worth it for some old sea shanty

on an obscure German label.

Any disc from anywhere?

It takes two weeks to ship from Hamburg.

By the time they arrive, it'll all have blown over.

Mersey Beat doesn't think so?

They don't sound German.

That's because they're from Liverpool.

They're playing the lunchtime sessions over at The Cavern.

Let's go, then.

What about this tea?

Come on.

Mr Brian!

That's Mr Brian Epstein, he's here to see the Beatles.

- Is he all right to come in? - Yes.

Mr Brian!

Are you lost?

Sorry?

Are you lost?

This isn't the Philharmonic?

Let me take your coat for you.

There's too many scallies. You'll never see it again.

That's lovely, that. D'ya get this made special?

Sorry?

Doesn't matter.

Thank you very much. Now that's how you treat a lady.

Look and learn, lads.

Sorry.

Excuse me.

Right, now, all you cave dwellers,

if we just quieten down for a moment, please.

Quick question.

Who here's forgot to bring their lunch?

Well, we got four little Hamburgers just for you.

You want to come to the front?

Well, I guess it's better.

Oh, I didn't expect to see you here. You all right?

Lovely

The first song we'd like to play... we didn't write actually, did we?

No, no, I think this was written by some other guy.

You like that, didn't you?

2, 3, 4!

-Hey, that'll be room service. -Broom service, more like.

Hello. My name is Brian Epstein.

Hello. My name is John Lennon.

My name is Paul McCartney.

My name is George Harrison. How do you do?

Pete Best.

May I come in?

Ooh if you do, one of us will have to come out.

Well, what brings you to our broom cupboard?

Er, well, ehm...

There you are.

We, at NEMS, have had some queries, several, in fact,

about your German disc, "My Bonnie",

and "Any disc from anywhere".

That's our promise in the store.

We don't stock many local groups.

What about Billy Fury?

No, of course, Billy Fury.

But there's been tremendous interest in your disc.

You were marvellous, really.

- Marvellous. - Splendid.

Thank you.

You always were, darling.

So, er... Well, I'll let you get changed.

Into what?

Well, it was very kind of you to come down, you know.

My pleasure.

Why don't you throw a few shillings at our Cyril on the way out?

Cyril is your manager?

No, Priscilla on coats, you should hear her sing.

She's bloody brilliant, you know.

Why don't you come by the office?

The NEMS Store on Whitechapel. Just for a chat.

Why don't you come to our office?

You have an office, do you?

No, but we'll get one just for you.

- Again, really, you were marvellous. -Marvellous.

You were, so erm...

I'll see you at the office.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much.

- Goodbye, now. - Cheerio.

-Sorry, they were awful. - I know.

Wasn't it fabulous what they did to that audience?

Are you serious?

- Really? - Yes.

I think I should manage them.

You're bloody joking, aren't you?

- They're just scruffy lads. - I can work on that.

- You've got no experience, Mr Brian. - How hard can it be?

What about NEMS?

- You've got NEMS to run. - No, I can do both.

- You've never managed a band before. - I'd never managed a shop.

They've got a manager, Allan Williams.

Half of Liverpool will tell you they discovered The Beatles.

The other half will tell you they're the fools who turned them down.

Allan Williams is the only man who managed to do both.

Allan.

Before you say a word, they're under contract.

- I didn't realise. - No, you didn't bother to ask, did you?

Otherwise, you'd know how much I bloody care for them.

I'm sure you do, Allan.

These boys mean a lot to me.

I hired them.