Genius

You've just been crowned Queen of Soul;

how does it feel?

Like I'm in a fairytale.

Are your children in the audience tonight?

It is way past their bedtime.

But they're young kids,

weren't you a mother at their age?

That is why tey're at home in bed.

Your father, Reverend Franklin,

is he okay with you singing pop?

Well, he loves me.

He loves my voice and will always support me.

Doesn't pop music mean you're turning your back

on the church?

Well, my voice is a gift from God,

so how could I possibly do that?

Queen, your sisters sing backup for you,

do you plan on ever singing backup for them?

We are family and we will always

support each other.

Queen, where's your king tonight?

What do you think about what Dr. King is trying to achieve

for the negro?

With your father and your husband by your side,

I mean who's calling the shots.

I think you all have been reading a few too many

gossip columns.

Six years at Columbia and for all that Mr. Hamlin did,

he couldn't get me on the charts because, well,

he didn't get me.

Jerry Wexler, he gets me.

He's getting me to come all the way down here.

Well, he said Fame Studios got the vibe.

It's going to be good, right?

Yes, ma'am. Good as gold.

And I'll protect you.

Daddy used to say that.

I'll be he did.

I'm going to make a hit for myself.

You gotta get there first.

We'll get there.

That's right, that's right, that's right.

Damn it to hell.

Anything I can do to help?

Handkerchief, thank you.

Thank you.

Ah, thank you.

Get in the car, Re.

Not from around here, huh?

No, we from Detroit, Michigan.

She's about my woman's size.

Your wife?

That's my daughter.

Stop, get back. Get back.

Okay.

Re?

Ya'll like my car?

Yeah.

You can have it.

Re?

Come on, Re.

Come on, baby.

That was scary, Daddy.

Yeah, it sure was.

Why did you give them your car?

Just to see the look on his face.

I'm always going to protect you, you remember that.

Woo, look at that one now.

Now, that's pretty, that one is pretty.

Oh, look at it.

Eh, look at the pearl handle thing there.

Woo, now that's a beauty.

Yeah, well we got some used models in the back.

Yeah.

But hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Nice, nice, nice.

The cars for sale, isn't it?

Where'd you get this kind of money?

I'm a Preacher.

And I think we both can agree that God is good.

Mrs. Franklin, Ted, good trip?

Mr. Wexler.

Itty bitty town, you sure they know what they're doing?

Oh, we are in very good hands here.

Your motel is down the street,

it's integrated so you'll be okay.

Rick Hall pulled some strings.

Fame Studios is big fish.

I am ready to sing.

Great, let me get the door.

And your flight was okay?

It was fine.

Drive was safe enough.

Good to hear.

You know, Rick Hall built this place from the ground up.

He's a real salt of the earth guy.

Well, it was nice for him to show Ted around.

Who's on my session?

Oh, the best. You're going to love them.

Well, I got this great new take on "Respect".

The Otis Redding song?

Mmhmm, it's going to be a whole new vibe,

you know what I mean?

Sure, sure.

You know, whatever we record,

if it sounds good today, great,

if it sounds good tomorrow, well,

that's when we really got something.

And Mrs. Franklin, I do appreciate your trust.

Well, shit, if you can't trust Jerry Wexler.

I love your work, especially with the

Ray Bryant Combo.

Your "Over the Rainbow" was something else.

Well, I'm looking for a funkier sound now.

Mm, yes ma'am, just had the piano tuned.

Sounds great.

And the control room's got state of the art equipment.

Welcome to Muscle Shoals.

You've got a lot of engineers.

We're the rhythm section, ma'am.

And we're the horns.

You're surprised.

Yeah, and you're white.

Um, Ms. Franklin,

can I see you in the control room a moment?

You said you wanted the guys who played behind Wilson Pickett.

How was I supposed to know they were white?

My wife's not just anybody.

I signed her, Ted, I know that.

She is deep soul, and blues, and church.

Like you've got a dime in your pocket and you hit the number,

she's the jackpot.

Who the hell are they?

They, they're the best just like you are, Ms. Franklin.

Give me your word?

You've got my word.

You going to be all right in there?

Yeah, sure.

Okay, guys, let's get ready to do one.

Ted, what do you want to start off with?

Let's do "Never Loved a Man".

She's got a good take on this one.

Thanks, baby.

We're rolling.

Unh‐unh.

Uh...

Uh...

What do you think, guys, more like a blues shuffle?

This what you're thinking, Mrs. Franklin?

Sounds good.

Maybe we could speed it up?

Yeah, kind of like a dance tune.

No, uh‐uh.

We got the song, we got the talent,

we just gotta find the groove.

You said these guys played with Pickett.

They'll get there.