Fox Style (1973) - full transcript
A wealthy nightclub owner struggles to reconcile his country upbringing with his city environs.
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- And still no sign of rain.
It's gonna be hot,
windy, and dry.
That's what's ahead for a while.
Meantime, KXJC brings you
the best of the golden west.
[light country music]
- Where the hell have you been?
Told me Monday you
was coming right out.
- Yeah well it's a long
drive from New York.
Where's all the other guys?
- Took off day before yesterday.
Left us a note saying
they was taking the pickup
for back wages.
We been sleeping out here.
Got kicked out of
the rooming house.
- How far'd you get?
- Oh, 4,500 and some odd.
Don't matter though,
the engine's shot
and the cable's so damn
frayed we was lucky
to get the tool out last night.
- How about credit?
- None.
Cash on the barrelhead.
How much you got left?
- None.
Broke.
Well what the hell do
we do with all of this?
- Hell let the bank have it.
- I wish there was some
way fill up this trap.
- Well there is.
I got it, let's do
it, hey you guys!
Give me a hand here.
Come here, AJ.
Come on, let's lift this up.
All right men, down
the hole with it.
Let it go.
[clanging]
All right, let's go to town.
Look it's all right.
I'll get another
job with Standard,
we'll get enough to
go together again.
We'll get it together.
- Well you're gonna
have to count me out.
That damn car is all I got left.
- Come on, let's go.
[rumbling]
What is that?
What is that?
Goddamn, keep back, we must
have busted the cap rock!
That son of a
bitch is coming in!
- Is it oil?
- Goddamn right it's oil!
Hey clear away you
guys, get out of here!
Get out of here!
That's oil!
Woo!
[all cheering]
[funky music]
♪ Fox style
♪ Fox style yeah
- What do you
reckon she'll make?
- Eh, about 1,500 barrels.
Looks good.
- I'd have sworn it
wouldn't go more than 800.
♪ A playboy he is
♪ That's the man's game
♪ Yeah
♪ He knows where he's headed
♪ Fox style his name
♪ What a catch
♪ Fox style, yeah fox style
We'll see you next time Johnny.
- All right y'all
be careful now.
♪ He's a mother of a dude
♪ And girls he's cool
♪ Now that's his game
♪ Yeah
♪ Fox style
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
- I swear to god
that's the last time
I'm betting you on anything.
- Come on Pat.
Next time we go
double or nothing.
- Yeah well you gotta
get some other sucker
to cover your bets.
[laughing]
- When you're hot,
you're hot man.
- When will you be
able to get back?
- I can't say for
sure, I don't know
what's happening up there.
Anything comes up give
me a call, all right?
- I'll do that.
Have a nice trip.
So long.
♪ Fox style
- Missed me, didn't you?
- More than you'll ever know.
- You get the
hydraulics checked?
- It was the indicator,
everything's fine now.
- Honey, did you get the bar
restocked? I'd like a drink.
- Yes.
Is that all you want?
- Stand handy.
- We're clear.
♪ Fox style ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
♪ Oh fox style
♪ Ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style
- Goodbye Texas.
♪ Fox style
♪ Ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
♪ Oh fox style
♪ Ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style
[funky music]
- Hey how was the trip?
- Fine trip.
- Glad you're back,
it's really been quiet.
- That'll change.
- Oh, you just look better
every time I see you.
How you doing man?
Good to see you baby, all right.
Hey girl, all right.
Hey man, all right do it.
All right baby.
Mm mm mm.
Every time.
Once you do something
once you'll always do it.
How you doing man?
Good to see you.
Gentlemen, how you doing?
Good to see you man.
♪ Everywhere you been
♪ You chalk up another win
♪ And I'm losing it all
- Hey man, I just got here.
Got a good crowd.
- Yeah, it's a good crowd.
So the men from Paris
arrived at 10 o'clock tonight
to talk about the Paris club.
They're at the corner table.
Excuse me.
- Right on.
[mysterious music]
- Hey John!
- How you doing Snuffy?
- Ain't doing too
much lately, man.
- I imagine not or you wouldn't
be selling shit in my club.
- What?
Hey what you saying man?
- Put it on the counter.
- Hey look Pickett I
ain't that stupid man.
All right.
I got a little.
It's just for myself, you know.
- Right, take it out.
Where's your friend?
- Oh he went on down the street.
We just ran into each other.
Oh man.
- Give me the money.
- What?
- Give me the money.
- Oh now wait a minute Pickett!
- Put the money on the counter.
- That's it.
[upbeat funky music]
[people shouting]
- Now you have five minutes
to get back across the river.
- This is it, huh? [spits]
This is what you want,
huh, this is what you want?
Okay I'll tell you what-
- No I'll tell you what.
If I catch either one
of you in my club again
you better be wearing
a Sherman's tank.
Straight?
[groovy music]
- Anybody you saw
talking to Snuffy get the
and give 'em their money back.
- He stopped at five
tables that I know of.
I tried to watch him but-
- I know, it's a busy night.
Just tell 'em we're very
sorry but there'll be
no dealing in this club.
We got too much
invested to get busted
on account of some
punk like Snuffy.
- Okay, I'll try to keep
a closer eye on things.
- Thanks man.
Yeah this is okay this layout.
Is this for December?
- Mm hmm.
- That's in bad taste,
this illustration.
- AJ, we got a fire downstairs.
[exciting music]
- That's gonna
blister bad, come on.
- No, I saw a car coming up
the alley as I was going in.
I didn't realize it then but
now that I think about it
it looked like Snuffy's car.
Just as I'd gone inside
the door they hit it
with a bottle of
gas or something.
- Okay.
Frank'll take you to the
doctor to get this checked out.
- I can't, I got-
- You're going home.
- I got deliveries coming.
- Listen man, Barnes'll
take care of it.
- But I gotta set
up for the new show.
- You are going to the doctor
and then you're going home.
[light music]
- Tired honey?
- You know it.
- Come on, your bath's ready.
- There's a lady been
calling for you all evening.
She says she has to
talk to you personally.
- Tell her to call tomorrow,
I'll talk to her then.
- Well that's what
I've been telling her.
She says it has to be tonight.
Says she's calling from
somewhere, sounds like
Semiole City.
- What?
No, no babe, that's
Seminole City.
That ain't no lady,
that's my mama.
Yeah you better put her on too.
- Arthur is that you?
- Hello mother how you doing?
- Just fine son.
How's the nightclub business?
- Doing fine, doing fine.
- Arthur?
- Yeah well Mama look it's
awful late right now, maybe...
- They're gonna close
down the factory
and I ain't about
to let that happen.
- What factory is that?
- The overall factory.
And we need you
to come down here.
- Down there?
- Yes.
- Well Mama I'm
awful busy right now,
maybe I'll tell you
what I'll get Pat there,
he'll take care of it
first thing in the morning.
- I don't need no Pat.
You've got lots of money,
and folks with lots of money
supposed to have lots of time.
Now your Uncle Henry's
sitting right here.
And he says they're gonna
sell the factory next Tuesday.
They're gonna auction it off.
Now, you know about
all these things.
You're doing so good with
your business and everything.
Now wait just a minute
son, let me do the talking
'cause this call is
costing a lot of money.
- Okay, okay Mama, go ahead.
- I know you're busy,
and I wouldn't ask you to come
except this
factory's all we got.
Now are you coming
down here and help us?
I think it's best if
you come tomorrow.
- Okay, okay Mama I guess it'll
be sometime in the evening.
All right.
Bye bye.
- Everything's
gonna be all right.
[laughing]
- Velma, get ahold of
the operator and tell her
to charge all those calls
from Seminole City to me.
Yeah, looks like we're gonna
be leaving in the morning
so get ahold of Barnes, call
Pat and ask him to meet us
at the airport.
And Velma get all those
contracts and crap together,
I'll be out there to work
on them in a few minutes.
And tell John to meet me
in the office right now.
Yeah okay.
Sorry baby.
- Yeah.
[funky music]
- How's Patricia and the kids?
- Fat, sassy, rich.
You know I miss Mama though.
Has she smoothed out any yet?
- Not so's you'd notice.
- Yeah, I was damn near
grown before I realized
how much we must
have got to her.
Remember the time I
took you out to that
goddamn Suzy's whorehouse?
[laughing]
Goddamn she was so mad she
could have killed us both, Mama.
She didn't want her baby
sleeping with no slut.
White or otherwise.
Hey remember when she took
out that goddamn broom?
[laughing]
Goddamn she coulda caught
me she'd have killed me.
- Sure almost did too.
- Oh man.
Barnes, could you pull over here
at this intersection up here?
- What?
Where you going?
- We're friends to
the bitter end, right?
Well this ain't gonna be it.
So long brother.
- Take a right up
at the next corner.
You get younger
every time I see you.
- Oh you're teasing.
- You do, you look great.
- Let me look at you.
- Mama, you remember
Richard Barnes.
- Of course Mr.
Barnes, how are you?
- Good to see you again.
- Grand Rapids?
- You remember!
- You see, I remember.
Come on in.
- Here they come now.
- They finally got here.
- Hello Arthur.
- Arthur, you remember
your Uncle Henry.
- Of course I do.
Hello Uncle.
- And this here is Little Henry.
- How you doing Arthur?
Been a long time, ain't it?
- He's a little bigger since
the last time you seen him.
- Yeah, I guess he is.
- And this here is Little
Henry's wife Renee.
They live over in
Pomona Springs.
- How are you doing Renee?
- And this is little William.
- Hi William!
- Hi.
[mumbles]
- And this is Amanda.
- Hello Amanda.
- Hello.
- And this here is
your Aunt Josephine.
- Come on home.
- Oh Auntie.
- Oh.
We are so glad!
- This is your
first cousin Eloise
and this is her son Elliot.
- Hey, glad to see you!
- Okay. [laughing]
- We had to go ahead and eat
on account of the children,
but you can see I cooked
everything that you like.
Black eyed peas and greens.
- Just fine Mama, just fine.
- Would you like some
spiced peaches, Mr. Barnes?
- Oh yes ma'am.
Sure looks good.
- Are you a cousin or a niece?
- Neither one.
- Oh, this is Cindy McDougal.
And I think she's one
of the smartest girls
in Seminole City.
She got a college degree
and she came back home
to teach here.
- Well it's nice
to meet you, Cindy.
- It's a great
pleasure to meet you.
- This is Richard Barnes.
- How are you?
- Hello Cindy.
- Hey I better make
the iced tea, okay?
- I'll help you!
- No sit down and talk,
I'll take care of it.
- All right.
- Well Mama.
Tell me all about it.
- Well there ain't
much to tell, son.
There was 214 people
at that factory.
And every one of
'em got laid off.
- That's right Arthur, every
employee is out of work.
And that includes just
about everybody outside.
- Now I know it's gonna be
harder than what we think,
but that overall
company is all we got.
It ain't like over
in Pomona Springs.
They got the parachute factory.
- Doing good too, that's
what Little Henry tells me.
- Oh we doing real good.
We supposed to get another
contract from the government
pretty soon.
- What were they planning
to do with the factory,
just let it stand there?
- No, I think the board
plans on Mr. Neely buying it
at the auction.
- Mm hmm, and he owns the bank.
- I remember.
- Neely says he's
going to tear it down,
try to sell the land.
- And that's why we phoned you.
- Good evening everybody.
Hope I ain't too late.
- Here's Brother Rambo.
He came over
especially to meet you.
- Heard all about your money.
- Evening Sister Fox.
Brother Henry.
Now got here as soon as I could.
Is this here your boy?
- Yes sir, this
is my son Arthur.
- It's a privilege and
a blessing Brother Fox.
I can't tell you how
much it means to us
having you come down
here and help us
with our little project.
- Well you know how it is
brother, when Mama calls-
- A good son answers.
Yes I know, and the Lord
will send down a blessing
for your faithfulness.
- This is Richard
Barnes, Brother Rambo.
- A great pleasure, great
pleasure Mr. Barnes.
- All mine, the
pleasure's all mine.
- I hope you haven't
eaten yet Brother Rambo.
- Oh, I just had a
snack before I came.
- Well you just sit down
there and help yourself.
[upbeat music]
- We'll talk some more later
on Brother Fox, I'm sure.
Right now you must be
tired from your trip.
- That's true.
I'm on a schedule delay.
- All right son.
[murmuring]
- Can I have some of that
spiced peaches Cindy?
- I talked to the
lawyer today myself,
and he's gonna take you
through the plant tomorrow.
Sit down, son.
Now Arthur, I don't want
you to feel as though you
got to help us.
But we've been so
keyed up lately
that I just don't
know what to do.
- I wanna talk about
something else, Mama.
- What?
- Why you treat
Pat the way you do.
Pat drove in with
us this evening
and he wouldn't even
come into this house.
- That thing, that's
understandable.
- Pat's a man, Mama.
One of the best.
He's also my partner.
For a long time he was
just like your other son.
Whatever we got now we started
together because of you.
- I don't want to talk about it.
- You raised the both of
us just like we was one.
And when we grew up, when
we left home you just
crossed him out like he was
something from another world.
- I raised you
because you was mine.
I raised him because I had to.
When his mama died I took him in
because I wasn't about to see
no orphan grow up around me.
But the minute I took
him in trouble started.
He started trying
to make you white
and you trying to
make him black.
And when you were kids you
were cussing and fighting
all the time.
And when you got bigger
you were drinking
and whoring around and
you're still doing it.
Now you both have done good,
but you ain't done right.
Now maybe I do have to accept
it from you 'cause you're mine
but I sure don't have to
accept it from no Pat Wolf.
And that's all I
got to say about it.
[mellow music]
- Car's unpacked.
Your stuff's in
the front bedroom.
- Good.
- Say.
Something I like
to ask you about.
- Sure.
- Well here about two
years ago I seen a copy
of that there magazine,
you know the Fox Lair?
- Yeah, that one.
- Yeah, and in this
one I seen they had
a big thing about you.
You know and all them pictures.
All about your cars
and that airplane
and you know the
nightclub and the pool
and you know where you live.
- Right.
- Well I been
meaning to ask you.
Is all that real?
- Well the car and
the plane, that's just
to get around in.
You know?
- Yeah.
- And well the club,
that's got to look good,
that's the business.
- Sho'nuff.
Well what about that
penthouse apartment of yours?
I mean...
- They just stuck it in
man, they said they'd
make it look good.
I got a couple little old rooms
over the club, that's all.
- What about that gal
in that bathtub, Arthur?
I mean...
[chuckling]
- No man, hell!
I felt stupid as hell getting
in there with that woman.
But they made me do it, they
said it would add style.
You know?
[laughing]
- I don't believe this.
- Steady old man.
- Afternoon sir.
- Hope we're not late.
- Reverend Rambo, no
sir it's all right,
we've only been here
a minute ourselves.
- Oh that's good, good.
- Is this-
- AJ Fox.
You know, Hattie Fox's boy.
- Mr. Fox it's a pleasure sir.
I'm Cunningham Calhoun.
Heard a lot about you
when I was in law school.
- Mr. Barnes.
- Mr. Barnes,
howdy do sir?
- Brother Rambo.
- Mr. Neely.
- Sure.
So you know that
note's been overdue for
a couple of weeks now.
- Oh well you know I
been kinda busy lately,
you know with the
collecting and all.
We collected $14,445
and just as soon
as this plant's back
on its feet again
I'm gonna pay off that debt.
- All right.
- Mr. Fox, I'd like to
introduce Mr. TH Neely,
president of the local bank.
- How are you?
- Mr. Frankford,
manager of the plant.
- It's a pleasure
to know you Mr. Fox.
- This is Mr. Barnes.
- How do you do Mr. Barnes?
- Mr. Neely.
- Mr. Barnes.
- Pleasure to know you.
- Mr. Calhoun's requested that
I show you through the plant.
- We appreciate your
taking the time.
- Oh think nothing of it.
I'm always glad to
show someone the place.
It's quite a historical
landmark you know.
[light harmonica music]
This original building
was an arsenal
for the Confederate Army,
17th infantry brigade.
Commanded by Brigadier
General KT Framingham
who was the paternal great
grandfather of the last
owner of the company.
If you'll just come in
here now, watch your step.
Come on through please.
The general was owed
some amount of money
at the conclusion of the
war, and as the government
in Richmond was in
disarray at the time,
general settled the matter
by taking possession
of this building and 2
or 300 bales of cotton
that were stored inside.
But as the business
expanded it became necessary
for them to move
into the basement.
Family made do in these
quarters for some 15 years.
Til profits from the
company made it possible
to expand the plant and
build a new home nearby.
- AJ this is the damndest
mess I ever seen.
You get into this and you'll
have a disaster on your hands.
- I got eyes.
But look here, if
this is all there is
what does that little
beady eyed little man
want with it?
- However gentlemen
this is the property
that'll be on the
auction block tomorrow.
If there are any questions?
- Yes, if I may.
Are there any other
properties or buildings
included in the deal?
- Ah well there is the Seminole
Hills development acreage
outside of town.
- Means it's a swamp.
- Would you care to see
that acreage also sir?
- I see.
No I don't think
that'll be necessary.
Thank you very much
for showing us through.
- Thank you.
- Mr. Frankford.
- Thank you.
- Mr. Neely.
Gentlemen.
[mellow music]
It ain't necessarily so Mama.
Probably all he wants to do
is tear it down like he said.
It wouldn't take much,
just stomp your foot and...
- Now listen here.
It seems to me that you
been up north so long
that you done forgot what
it's like around here.
Why them old most
bastard brothers
see that factory torn
down than see any progress
made in this town.
Because any progress
left is black progress.
- Well that's exactly my point.
It isn't progress to get
saddled with an old fire trap
like that.
- If that's what we
got to start with
then that's what it'll
be, that and spirit.
Now it seems to me the
way you acted in there
that I made a mistake by
asking you to come down here.
All you could see was a
building, and machines.
You done got to the point
where you don't
see people no more.
So you just go on back to your
nightclub and your oil wells
and your women.
- Mama.
- Just go on.
We got our money together.
And if you can't add
anything but money,
we got plenty of
that so just go on.
- I think I'll stick around
and see how you make out.
- It's left up to you.
[bells tolling]
- Do you know them?
- The little man is Mr.
Neely's brother in law.
I don't know who
the other man is,
I think he's from around Mobile.
- Uh huh.
- Yeah I saw him in
the bank last Friday.
- I see.
- That's him there.
What do you think?
- They're bluffing.
- Yeah I think so.
[murmuring]
- Say Arthur. I got you
a seat saved up here.
- I think we can see better
if we sit back there.
- Oh.
How you doing?
- Ladies and gentlemen,
may I have your attention
for a moment please?
At this time we stand ready
to receive the first bid.
Mr. Washington.
- Mr. Calhoun.
We bid $10,000.
[cheering]
- $10,000 is the bid.
- Mr. Calhoun.
- Mr. Neely.
- Wish to bid $14,500.
- $14,500 is the bid.
Do I hear further bids?
- 15,000.
[murmuring]
- 18,000.
- $18,000 is bid.
- $20,000.
[audience applauding]
[audience cheering]
- You gonna save the day, right?
- That's right.
- Further bids please.
- $25,000.
- $25,000 is bid.
- 27,500.
- Do I hear further bids?
- Do you know what you're doing?
- Damn sure ain't what
they want me to do.
- $35,000.
- $35,000 is bid.
Further bids please.
- 50,000.
- Mr. Calhoun.
- Mr. Neely.
- The First State Bank of
Seminole City bids $100,000.
- $100,000.
- Thurmond Neely, have
you lost your mind?
- Shut up, let me be!
- $100,000 is bid.
Do I hear further bids?
- 125.
- Sir?
- $125,000.
[clears throat]
- $125,000 is bid,
ladies and gentlemen.
Do I hear further bids?
- Mr. Calhoun.
- Mr. Neely.
- I want to request a recess.
- Mr. Calhoun?
- Yes.
- My bid is $125,000.
Will that bid be honored or not?
- Yes sir it is
honored, be assured.
- Damnit I gotta call Mobile!
- Well Mr. Neely, I just
don't see how an auction
may be recessed and besides
I don't think it'll do
too much good to call Mobile.
- Get the hell back here!
[snickering]
Mr. Calhoun.
- Yes sir.
- We still gotta recess.
How do we know whether that
man's bid is good or not?
- We've already considered
the need for verification
of our bid sir.
We have something here that
might solve this matter
very quickly.
These are letters of credit from
the three largest
banks in New York.
Any one of them is
enough to cover this bid.
- Anybody can write
a letter, sign it.
It don't mean a thing.
- That's true, it's
only paper Mr. Neely.
So is this.
[crowd murmuring]
- Uh, gentlemen.
I think we should proceed.
For the sum of $125,000.
Going once.
Going twice.
Sold!
[bangs gavel]
[cheering]
[shouting]
[upbeat music]
- Brothers and sisters.
This is truly a great day.
A great day I tell you.
- Yes sir!
- And bears one more
witness to the fact
that the Lord do provide.
Do you understand what
I'm talking about?
- Yes sir!
- Do you hear me?
- Yeah!
- Say amen!
- Amen!
- Say it again!
- Amen!
- All right.
- Uncle Henry?
- Yeah?
- Let's go look around
that swamp this afternoon.
- Well I can take you.
I know my way around
there as well as anybody.
[mysterious music]
That was so fine.
Mr. Calhoun.
Bank of Seminole City
wishes to bid $100,000.
Uh, 125.
I never saw anything get
to old Neely like that
or his old wife either.
- Yeah it didn't look
like I did what they
wanted me to do huh?
Whatever it is they
thought they had
must be in here somewhere.
Why don't we try
up that way, Cindy?
- Seems like it's
getting shallower to me.
- Give me that pole.
It's been a long time since
I've pushed a skiff around.
- What are you
going in here for?
I never noticed that before.
- I betcha somebody else did.
- How about that?
What is it AJ?
- Can't say for sure.
Some folks might think
it was natural gas.
- Really?
- Mm hmm.
We're burning Cindy!
Get up there and put it out.
Go on, put it out!
- I'm trying!
Would you get us out of
here before we burn up?
- Mr. Fox you looking real cool.
- Yeah.
Style, baby.
- What do you think'll
be done with that stuff?
You got any plans?
- Not yet.
Pat's the expert on gas and oil.
Course if it's good and
there's enough of it.
No telling.
Wanna go for a swim?
- No I think I'll pass on that.
[chuckles]
[gentle music]
How about the factory?
- We better face it.
There isn't much future
in making overalls.
- Well not the old way.
I mean we've got some
surprises in store.
We've got some new
ideas and we got
some different procedures.
You'll see.
- I didn't say we
weren't gonna reopen.
Everybody's going back to work.
Gonna need every good
idea you can come up with.
- Well you know what I think?
- What's that?
- I think you care
just as much as anybody
about keeping this
old town going.
- Is that right?
- I think there's a lot
of things you care about.
- Swamp gas?
- That's right.
You find it all over down here.
Seeps up in patches of bubbles.
Kinda smells like
a goat, don't it?
- What do you figure?
Do you think they
might have known
and just used it as a come
on to jack up the price?
- Nah.
If Thurman Neely's anything
like we're remembering
he wouldn't be that bright.
I think he figured
he had something else
he wouldn't have jacked
the price up 100,000.
- Could be.
- What's that?
- Oh the dog.
- Well I better get
the hell outta here
before Mama gets back.
What are you figuring
on doing about all this?
- Think I'll pay a
call down at the bank.
See if I can sell
some real estate.
[chuckling]
- Well it just wouldn't be
possible, don't you see?
Now I'm never adverse
to such a thing myself,
but the directors
just wouldn't approve
that large a loan
for speculation.
Now if it were a
question of 10, 15,000.
- Uh, I'm afraid our project
will just have to wait
until we recover enough funds.
Thank you very much for
your time, Mr. Neely.
Good luck to you sir.
- Thank you, and
the same to you.
Mr. Fox.
- Yes sir?
- Tell you I been thinking.
Now I can understand don't
you see as a business man.
Now in all fairness
to your situation
and in appreciation
for what you're doing
for the factory and all,
I'd like to help you out
by a personal offer.
Say, $50,000 for
that swamp acreage.
What do you say?
- Well I hadn't considered
selling Mr. Neely,
but looking at it
realistically and knowing
the potential value of a
gas deposit in that swamp,
I'd say $100,000 wasn't just
reasonable, it's a steal.
- Well.
Well why don't we just
step inside a minute?
[funky music]
Let me make a call to Mobile.
Sit down, make
yourself comfortable.
Mary Ellen, could you bring
some coffee in please?
- Cindy drew this so you could
see what we're aiming for.
Now we know there's not much
market in men's overalls.
But we think we got the
makings of women's wear.
- Mm hmm.
- This is the last one, Arthur.
- Thanks Uncle.
Got something going here Mama.
I think you're on
the right track.
I gotta go.
- AJ.
Now we've talked about
it and we want you
to take the money we
collected because it just
isn't fair to ask you
to carry the whole load
all by yourself.
- You turn it back to the
people that contributed, huh?
- No, wait a minute now-
- Now look. I ain't
gonna hear it.
- Thank you.
- Yeah, next time.
- Brother Fox, I do wish
you'd stay and worship with us
Sunday, I think you'd
find it a great blessing.
- Arthur done left a
great blessing, brother.
- Son.
I'm so proud of you.
Now you take care of
yourself, and you write us.
- I will Mama.
I will.
Uncle.
We'll keep in touch.
- Yeah.
- Well.
I guess you're looking forward
to getting back up there.
All those bright
lights and fancy clubs.
- Hey.
- And women.
- Look here.
- Goodbye Mr. Barnes.
- Bye Cindy.
- I wanna be in the
air by six o'clock.
[upbeat funky music]
- Oughta catch him
[mumbles] right?
- Yeah, Putnam's next.
- People damn sure stay
laughing in front of me.
Til I tell you to slow down.
Right.
There he is!
- Yeah?
- Keep ahead of him.
- He's picking up.
- Get in this lane,
get in this lane.
Slow down, slow down.
[gun fires]
[jazzy music]
- Welcome home.
What'd you say your name was?
- Arthur J. Fox.
The overall king.
I wanna see Pickett.
- He hasn't gotten here yet.
He probably got tied up in the-
[dramatic music]
[sirens wailing]
- Say girl, what
you doing later?
- Oh, I've got a date.
- Oh yeah, who's that?
- Oh, this dude
says he lives here
but he's sure out of town a lot.
- AJ.
That was Liutenant
McGowan on the phone,
says we should get over to
Putnam and Oak Lawn right away.
He's waiting for us there.
[dramatic music]
[sirens wailing]
- AJ it looked like
a shotgun blast
right through the window.
He was probably dead before
he even hit that ditch.
Seems like there
weren't any witnesses.
We got a couple ideas so
we're gonna stay hot on it.
- So have I.
[upbeat funky music]
- Look out!
I know where he's going,
we gotta follow him.
- Okay hit it.
- Put this shit
away, AJ's coming up.
Come on.
Say man ain't nobody
ever took off AJ.
Why don't you go down then?
- Get down to the door.
- Oh why don't you go?
- He's right in back of us!
- Back of me?
- Just hold your gun on him.
Maybe get him in the
ship, blow him away.
If he don't...
- Just blow him away, that's
all there is to it huh?
- Hey go on.
- That's all it is.
Why you wanna set me up?
- What's the matter, you yella?
- Why don't you go down?
- Hey look at your size man.
He's just a little dude.
- If he's so little why
don't you just go down
and take him off?
- Man, what you get paid for?
[door slams]
[funky music]
[shouting]
[scuffling]
[sirens wailing]
- Wake up, Snuffy.
It's Christmas.
Snow is falling.
Santa Claus is on the way.
[police radio chatter]
Well I'm a little pressed
for time right now Mama.
Yeah, that's right,
I own Fox's Lair.
Oh I don't know,
let me make a call
and I'll get back to you.
Hold on a second.
Hey wait a minute.
- Sorry baby, I'll see
you when you get back.
Whenever that is.
- Yeah Mama, go ahead.
No no, nothing important.
Um yeah okay look let me
see what I can do about it
and I'll get back
to you. Okay, bye.
Overalls.
Velma?
Yeah would you get
Barnes on the phone?
And call Hugo and tell
him he's got two weeks
to get a promotion
campaign together
for the new Dixie overall...
The new Dixie fashion line.
That's right, tell him to
coordinate with Uncle Henry.
Hmm.
We're migrating south.
- What do you suppose
all that commotion's
about over yonder?
[murmuring]
- Fella told me the black
foxes are coming in.
- What in the hell
is the black foxes?
- Oh, that's a basketball
team somewhere.
[funky music]
- How are things doing
down here Uncle Henry?
- Doing just fine.
Everything'll be
ready by the morning.
- Well that's good.
Is everybody placed now?
- All except Barney,
Cecille, and Barnes.
- Does anybody want
a glass of lemonade?
- I could use a
good bed right now.
- Well say no more.
You can have mine, I'll sleep
out on the porch tonight.
- The porch?
You mean with the
bugs and stuff?
- Oh come on honey,
this is down home.
You remember sleeping outside?
- Where I grew up
might be able to
if you were sleeping in a cage.
- Mother would you-
[shouting]
- Ooh I'll get a towel!
[slapping]
[tapping]
- Miss Blair?
- Yes?
- Sounds like you're having
a little trouble sleeping.
- Not really.
It's these mosquitoes
that have got insomnia.
- Oh I got just
the thing for that.
Wait just one minute.
[light music]
[knocking]
Miss Blair?
- Just a second.
- Got something
for the mosquitoes
and a little something
to help you sleep.
- Oh well thank you.
- Lemonade.
Imagine it's been a long
time since you had any
country style lemonade.
[coughing]
- You could say that again.
What'd you put in this?
- Just a little medicinal gin.
I find it relaxing
after a hard day.
- More like medicinal
battery acid.
What's this?
- Citronella, that's to
keep the mosquitoes off.
- And everything else too.
- Oh, you hardly notice the
smell at all once it's on.
Here let me show you.
You see?
- Yeah, hardly at all.
- Oh it'll soak in
in just a minute.
Now Miss Blair,
I don't want you to get
the wrong impression.
- I never get the
wrong impression.
Goodnight.
Brother Rambo.
- Yes?
- I appreciate the lemonade.
- Oh, think nothing of it.
- Right.
[people chattering]
- We'll do with the best sent.
- Okay Mama, hold on a second.
Say man, got it together?
- Oh everything's fine.
You know I'm really amazed.
Two weeks of setup and
it's actually organized.
- All it takes is spirit.
- I guess so.
Yeah, excuse me for a minute.
Cindy.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Those are for the
showing, aren't they?
- That's right.
- You're gonna be
one of the models?
- Yeah they insisted on it.
I was up half the night
memorizing my speech.
- You'll do fine.
It's fun once you get into it.
- Well I hope so.
- I'll see you later.
- Bye bye.
- Uh, Bonnie?
- Mm hmm?
- Maybe I shouldn't ask.
But what in the hell is
that perfume you got on?
- Eau de citronella.
Local product.
May be your turn for
a free sample tonight.
[funky music]
- Hattie, telephone!
- All right.
Honey, will you take these
clothes to Uncle Henry
and tell him that they're
for the show this afternoon?
- Mm hmm.
- All right?
Okay, I'm coming.
- Tired honey?
- Got me changing
clothes so much my skin's
about worn through.
- You upset about something?
- Yes I am.
- About the factory and all?
- That's right.
- Well I been meaning to
have a say about that.
Maybe we oughta
have a little talk.
- Yeah well maybe so.
- You know I'm becoming
more and more disturbed
about the attitude of
certain people around here
and if I ever...
♪ Gotta get down
down down down ♪
♪ Way down
[audience applauding]
[scat singing]
[audience applauding]
- May I have your attention?
Has everybody had a good time?
- [Crowd] Yeah!
- Did everybody
get enough to eat?
- [Crowd] Yeah!
- Good, good.
Well in addition to good
food and good music,
we've seen some pretty women.
- Right on.
- Right on.
- And some beautiful clothes.
- Yeah!
- You really laid 'em out.
- Yeah.
Most of 'em ain't
seen this much woman
since they read the
National Geographic.
Some crowd.
Did you see that old dude
about to beat his hands off?
His old lady jumping on his ass?
- You think this is
gonna start something?
- Hell no.
It's just another waste of time.
I'm ready to get
back to civilization.
I've had it with hick
towns and ignorant rubes
and horny preachers. [laughing]
- We'll be sending
you regular reports.
- Mama have you given
any more thought
to letting me get you
a place in the city?
- Oh, I think we're
needed right here.
- Whatever you say.
All right Uncle, don't
let her work too hard now.
- I won't.
- Take care son.
- Bye.
- So now we're out
100,000 on your say so,
and another 25,000 for the
drilling on your say so.
And you didn't even have a
sample tested to start with.
- Well it smelled awful gassy.
- Not only that,
you practically gave
the damn factory to him.
Now how do you think
that's gonna set with 'em
when they hear about
that down in Mobile?
You let yourself get
took, just bald as hell.
Now what do you
got to say for it?
- Well I figured it
could be that rich,
but damnit who ever
heard of one that smart?
- I'll be goddamned.
[machines whirring]
[murmuring]
- Man it sure is hot
this time of year.
- It sure is.
- I don't know what we gonna do.
- Hey Cindy.
- Cindy, come here!
Why don't you tell them we
need some air conditioner
around here?
- I'm liable to tell them
a lot more than that.
- Oh hey.
- You take that on a man.
- I'm telling you.
- Now you done seen all these
naked women 'round here.
Puttin' evil thoughts
into the minds
of god fearing people.
- You right sir.
- And you know about
the sweatshop factory!
- Yes sir.
- Yes.
- And I just think that
this ain't god's way.
- You right.
- Do you know
what I'm talking about?
[cheering]
Do you understand what
I'm trying to tell you?
- Rambo is getting awful
agitated here lately.
- I guess with most
folks working every night
they too tired to go
to revival meetings.
- Yeah that means
old collection plate
is getting lighter and
lighter and lighter.
[laughing]
- Listen kids, I hate to
break up your love affair
but come on, let's
go back to work.
- Good morning.
- Morning Cindy.
Have you taken care of
all the new employees?
- Yeah.
- What's the matter baby?
- Nothing.
- There's gotta be something
the matter the way you actin'.
- Nothing's the matter with me.
Well I been thinking
about going back
to teaching school is all.
- Well.
If that's what you want to do,
but we sure need you here.
You're the best personnel
manager we can get.
- Or money can buy as
Arthur J. Fox would say.
- Now what do you mean by that?
- I mean this whole
thing has gotten to be
just another rip
off, that's what.
- Oh honey.
You can't believe that.
After all we've been through?
- We're turning into a
bunch of exporters down here
serving the interests of an
absentee black capitalist?
Exploiting black labor?
We're no better than
old man Framingham.
- Now what's the
matter with her?
- Nothing's the matter with me.
I'm just the only one that
hasn't let it go to my head.
I don't feel that well, I
need a couple of days off.
- Yeah now, what's going on?
- Brother, there will be
no more work performed
in this factory until this
matter is brought to a head.
- What matter is that?
- Y'all come on in here.
- Cindy, come in here.
- Now we've been
elected to represent
the rest of the workers
in this here plant.
Now the matter is
cleaner and more sanitary
places to perform the work.
Less safety hazards.
More air conditioning
and better pay.
Less working overtime.
Paid sick leave.
And time off for attending
religious services.
Profit sharing plan!
And a 10% tithe to some
deserving organization
or religious organization.
Now.
[light music]
[phone ringing]
- Hello?
- Mr. Fox?
This is Frankford
down at the factory.
I thought you oughta know
we got a real emergency
down here right now.
It's Brother Rambo, he's
in the plant and he's
stirring up the employees
about everything.
Yeah.
- Yeah well I figured
that might happen.
[sighs]
Don't worry, just keep calm.
Okay.
- Even if it means less profit
for that absentee
holder of this company,
who I might add refused to let
us buy into our own factory
after we had worked so
hard to collect the money.
- That is a great
sermon brother.
Would have been even
better if you had known
what you were talking about.
- Brother, nobody
knows better than me
when my people are
being treated unfairly.
- Baloney!
Your people?
Your people hell!
- Now you listen here-
- Now hold on there.
Let's go about this
thing sensibly.
Now this matter of
absentee ownership.
- Yes, where is he?
I mean Mr. AJ Fox.
He's taking life easy
while we're down here
sweating out money for him.
- Arthur doesn't make any
money from this company.
And never did.
- Just what do you mean?
That don't make no sense to me.
- Let me finish!
- He gets no money?
- No honey, he doesn't.
- Well who does?
- We do.
- Now let me ask you something.
Is there anything in writing
regarding this matter?
- Yes there is.
[funky music]
Profits from said
company shall be directed
at first toward an
educational scholarship
for deserving children
of the black community.
And at such time as
further profits allow
there shall be established
within the township
of Seminole City a four
year liberal arts college.
The precise location of
which shall be determined
by the trustees
of the foundation.
You might want to check
this over Reverend
to see if I read it correctly.
Now the foundation mentioned
is strictly non-profit,
chartered by the state.
And since Mr. Fox owns no
businesses in the state,
he doesn't even get
a tax write-off.
- Now you hold on
there just a minute.
Ain't you trying to
get past something?
Now just who are these trustees?
- Tell him who they are.
- Oh, it's right here.
The following individuals
have been designated
as trustees for the foundation.
Mrs. Hattie Fox.
Mr. Henry David Washington.
Mr. Ernest Frankford.
Mr. Cunningham Calhoun.
Miss Cindy McDougal.
And the Reverend
Everett L. Rambo.
If we could have the last
three signatures please.
- Excuse me.
- If it's all right with you
brother we going back to work.
- Here's a pen brother, sign it.
- I never thought
I'd see the day
that I would be glad to see you.
- Well I was half
expecting you to throw
one of your hissy fits like the
last time we saw each other.
[laughing]
But AJ was so damn
insistent that I come over
I thought I'd better
take the chance.
I'm glad I did, Mama.
- Arthur told me
that you got married.
- Yes ma'am.
I got a fine wife, and
two kids nearly grown.
- Should give Arthur a
push, he's still dangling.
[laughing]
- Well, don't you
think it's about time
that you should bring 'em around
and let me see what
they look like?
- Yes ma'am.
Bye Mama.
Uncle Henry.
Let's go Simmons.
- Did you see that chauffer?
- Looked mighty fine.
- I don't see why he
couldn't give that job
to some nice colored fella.
- Oh mama.
- Mm?
- Yeah.
- How's your girlfriend?
- Who, Bonnie?
- I don't recall her name.
[chuckles]
- Well Bonnie's out
on the coast now.
Got herself a motion
picture contract.
She probably got half of
Hollywood up a tree by now.
So what happened to
Rambo's old tent?
- He folded and gone.
He said something
about the lord's hand
leading him into
greener pastures.
He's been gone
almost a month now.
You haven't said what this
secret mission is all about.
- What's that?
- All the mystery.
Mama asking me to pick
you up from the airport?
- Oh when Frankford
telephoned me I called Mama.
I thought I'd better come
down here and see how
the problems at the factory
were being worked out.
When I landed, there you were.
And here we are.
- Disappointed?
- No, pleased actually.
This is much nicer
than the factory.
- Would you like
some black eyed peas?
- I would like
some of everything.
Thank you.
Cindy, why did
you bring me here?
- Well any woman
knows the first thing
a man needs is feeding.
I mean the factory is there
and it'll be all right now.
- This is good.
- And this is not
the Sunday special.
- Go ahead.
- You know sometimes
you amaze me.
- How's that?
- Well most of the
time you're so cool
and businesslike
and other times.
- Other times what?
- Other times Mr.
Fox you are easy.
- Cindy how'd you like
to try the city with me
first thing in the morning?
For a while?
- When I move, and if I move,
my man is gonna be mine.
[rotary phone dialing]
- Barnes.
Yeah.
Um, I'm gonna be staying
down here for a while.
Well look I mean the
factory's gonna be needing,
you know, more attention
than I thought and
there's some other things too.
Of course I mean it.
It looks like you
got yourself a man.
I thought you were
supposed to feed me first.
Now don't this beat a
damn stinking swamp?
- Mm hmm.
- All the crawdads watching.
- Mm.
[sultry music]
[phone ringing]
- Yeah?
- Arthur?
Is that you?
Arthur?
Now listen to me son.
Little Henry's here.
They got trouble over
in Pomona Springs.
Arthur?
Do you know anything
about parachutes?
[funky music]
♪ A playboy he is
♪ That's the man's game
♪ Yeah
♪ He knows where he's headed
♪ Fox style his name
♪ What a catch
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah Fox style is his name
♪ Yeah
♪ He's a mother of a dude
♪ And girls he's cool
♪ Now that's his game
♪ Yeah
♪ His rap has a clue
♪ Everything about
him is smooth ♪
♪ The ladies strut
♪ Yeah
♪ With two chicks on his arm
♪ He has so much charm
♪ He knows so much
♪ Fox style
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
♪ He drives a long
black limousine ♪
♪ And man he's clean
♪ Fox style
♪ From a very small
town he came ♪
♪ Trying to make
his game pay off ♪
♪ And he did
♪ Oh Fox style ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
♪ Oh Fox style ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style, woo
---
- And still no sign of rain.
It's gonna be hot,
windy, and dry.
That's what's ahead for a while.
Meantime, KXJC brings you
the best of the golden west.
[light country music]
- Where the hell have you been?
Told me Monday you
was coming right out.
- Yeah well it's a long
drive from New York.
Where's all the other guys?
- Took off day before yesterday.
Left us a note saying
they was taking the pickup
for back wages.
We been sleeping out here.
Got kicked out of
the rooming house.
- How far'd you get?
- Oh, 4,500 and some odd.
Don't matter though,
the engine's shot
and the cable's so damn
frayed we was lucky
to get the tool out last night.
- How about credit?
- None.
Cash on the barrelhead.
How much you got left?
- None.
Broke.
Well what the hell do
we do with all of this?
- Hell let the bank have it.
- I wish there was some
way fill up this trap.
- Well there is.
I got it, let's do
it, hey you guys!
Give me a hand here.
Come here, AJ.
Come on, let's lift this up.
All right men, down
the hole with it.
Let it go.
[clanging]
All right, let's go to town.
Look it's all right.
I'll get another
job with Standard,
we'll get enough to
go together again.
We'll get it together.
- Well you're gonna
have to count me out.
That damn car is all I got left.
- Come on, let's go.
[rumbling]
What is that?
What is that?
Goddamn, keep back, we must
have busted the cap rock!
That son of a
bitch is coming in!
- Is it oil?
- Goddamn right it's oil!
Hey clear away you
guys, get out of here!
Get out of here!
That's oil!
Woo!
[all cheering]
[funky music]
♪ Fox style
♪ Fox style yeah
- What do you
reckon she'll make?
- Eh, about 1,500 barrels.
Looks good.
- I'd have sworn it
wouldn't go more than 800.
♪ A playboy he is
♪ That's the man's game
♪ Yeah
♪ He knows where he's headed
♪ Fox style his name
♪ What a catch
♪ Fox style, yeah fox style
We'll see you next time Johnny.
- All right y'all
be careful now.
♪ He's a mother of a dude
♪ And girls he's cool
♪ Now that's his game
♪ Yeah
♪ Fox style
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
- I swear to god
that's the last time
I'm betting you on anything.
- Come on Pat.
Next time we go
double or nothing.
- Yeah well you gotta
get some other sucker
to cover your bets.
[laughing]
- When you're hot,
you're hot man.
- When will you be
able to get back?
- I can't say for
sure, I don't know
what's happening up there.
Anything comes up give
me a call, all right?
- I'll do that.
Have a nice trip.
So long.
♪ Fox style
- Missed me, didn't you?
- More than you'll ever know.
- You get the
hydraulics checked?
- It was the indicator,
everything's fine now.
- Honey, did you get the bar
restocked? I'd like a drink.
- Yes.
Is that all you want?
- Stand handy.
- We're clear.
♪ Fox style ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
♪ Oh fox style
♪ Ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style
- Goodbye Texas.
♪ Fox style
♪ Ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
♪ Oh fox style
♪ Ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style
[funky music]
- Hey how was the trip?
- Fine trip.
- Glad you're back,
it's really been quiet.
- That'll change.
- Oh, you just look better
every time I see you.
How you doing man?
Good to see you baby, all right.
Hey girl, all right.
Hey man, all right do it.
All right baby.
Mm mm mm.
Every time.
Once you do something
once you'll always do it.
How you doing man?
Good to see you.
Gentlemen, how you doing?
Good to see you man.
♪ Everywhere you been
♪ You chalk up another win
♪ And I'm losing it all
- Hey man, I just got here.
Got a good crowd.
- Yeah, it's a good crowd.
So the men from Paris
arrived at 10 o'clock tonight
to talk about the Paris club.
They're at the corner table.
Excuse me.
- Right on.
[mysterious music]
- Hey John!
- How you doing Snuffy?
- Ain't doing too
much lately, man.
- I imagine not or you wouldn't
be selling shit in my club.
- What?
Hey what you saying man?
- Put it on the counter.
- Hey look Pickett I
ain't that stupid man.
All right.
I got a little.
It's just for myself, you know.
- Right, take it out.
Where's your friend?
- Oh he went on down the street.
We just ran into each other.
Oh man.
- Give me the money.
- What?
- Give me the money.
- Oh now wait a minute Pickett!
- Put the money on the counter.
- That's it.
[upbeat funky music]
[people shouting]
- Now you have five minutes
to get back across the river.
- This is it, huh? [spits]
This is what you want,
huh, this is what you want?
Okay I'll tell you what-
- No I'll tell you what.
If I catch either one
of you in my club again
you better be wearing
a Sherman's tank.
Straight?
[groovy music]
- Anybody you saw
talking to Snuffy get the
and give 'em their money back.
- He stopped at five
tables that I know of.
I tried to watch him but-
- I know, it's a busy night.
Just tell 'em we're very
sorry but there'll be
no dealing in this club.
We got too much
invested to get busted
on account of some
punk like Snuffy.
- Okay, I'll try to keep
a closer eye on things.
- Thanks man.
Yeah this is okay this layout.
Is this for December?
- Mm hmm.
- That's in bad taste,
this illustration.
- AJ, we got a fire downstairs.
[exciting music]
- That's gonna
blister bad, come on.
- No, I saw a car coming up
the alley as I was going in.
I didn't realize it then but
now that I think about it
it looked like Snuffy's car.
Just as I'd gone inside
the door they hit it
with a bottle of
gas or something.
- Okay.
Frank'll take you to the
doctor to get this checked out.
- I can't, I got-
- You're going home.
- I got deliveries coming.
- Listen man, Barnes'll
take care of it.
- But I gotta set
up for the new show.
- You are going to the doctor
and then you're going home.
[light music]
- Tired honey?
- You know it.
- Come on, your bath's ready.
- There's a lady been
calling for you all evening.
She says she has to
talk to you personally.
- Tell her to call tomorrow,
I'll talk to her then.
- Well that's what
I've been telling her.
She says it has to be tonight.
Says she's calling from
somewhere, sounds like
Semiole City.
- What?
No, no babe, that's
Seminole City.
That ain't no lady,
that's my mama.
Yeah you better put her on too.
- Arthur is that you?
- Hello mother how you doing?
- Just fine son.
How's the nightclub business?
- Doing fine, doing fine.
- Arthur?
- Yeah well Mama look it's
awful late right now, maybe...
- They're gonna close
down the factory
and I ain't about
to let that happen.
- What factory is that?
- The overall factory.
And we need you
to come down here.
- Down there?
- Yes.
- Well Mama I'm
awful busy right now,
maybe I'll tell you
what I'll get Pat there,
he'll take care of it
first thing in the morning.
- I don't need no Pat.
You've got lots of money,
and folks with lots of money
supposed to have lots of time.
Now your Uncle Henry's
sitting right here.
And he says they're gonna
sell the factory next Tuesday.
They're gonna auction it off.
Now, you know about
all these things.
You're doing so good with
your business and everything.
Now wait just a minute
son, let me do the talking
'cause this call is
costing a lot of money.
- Okay, okay Mama, go ahead.
- I know you're busy,
and I wouldn't ask you to come
except this
factory's all we got.
Now are you coming
down here and help us?
I think it's best if
you come tomorrow.
- Okay, okay Mama I guess it'll
be sometime in the evening.
All right.
Bye bye.
- Everything's
gonna be all right.
[laughing]
- Velma, get ahold of
the operator and tell her
to charge all those calls
from Seminole City to me.
Yeah, looks like we're gonna
be leaving in the morning
so get ahold of Barnes, call
Pat and ask him to meet us
at the airport.
And Velma get all those
contracts and crap together,
I'll be out there to work
on them in a few minutes.
And tell John to meet me
in the office right now.
Yeah okay.
Sorry baby.
- Yeah.
[funky music]
- How's Patricia and the kids?
- Fat, sassy, rich.
You know I miss Mama though.
Has she smoothed out any yet?
- Not so's you'd notice.
- Yeah, I was damn near
grown before I realized
how much we must
have got to her.
Remember the time I
took you out to that
goddamn Suzy's whorehouse?
[laughing]
Goddamn she was so mad she
could have killed us both, Mama.
She didn't want her baby
sleeping with no slut.
White or otherwise.
Hey remember when she took
out that goddamn broom?
[laughing]
Goddamn she coulda caught
me she'd have killed me.
- Sure almost did too.
- Oh man.
Barnes, could you pull over here
at this intersection up here?
- What?
Where you going?
- We're friends to
the bitter end, right?
Well this ain't gonna be it.
So long brother.
- Take a right up
at the next corner.
You get younger
every time I see you.
- Oh you're teasing.
- You do, you look great.
- Let me look at you.
- Mama, you remember
Richard Barnes.
- Of course Mr.
Barnes, how are you?
- Good to see you again.
- Grand Rapids?
- You remember!
- You see, I remember.
Come on in.
- Here they come now.
- They finally got here.
- Hello Arthur.
- Arthur, you remember
your Uncle Henry.
- Of course I do.
Hello Uncle.
- And this here is Little Henry.
- How you doing Arthur?
Been a long time, ain't it?
- He's a little bigger since
the last time you seen him.
- Yeah, I guess he is.
- And this here is Little
Henry's wife Renee.
They live over in
Pomona Springs.
- How are you doing Renee?
- And this is little William.
- Hi William!
- Hi.
[mumbles]
- And this is Amanda.
- Hello Amanda.
- Hello.
- And this here is
your Aunt Josephine.
- Come on home.
- Oh Auntie.
- Oh.
We are so glad!
- This is your
first cousin Eloise
and this is her son Elliot.
- Hey, glad to see you!
- Okay. [laughing]
- We had to go ahead and eat
on account of the children,
but you can see I cooked
everything that you like.
Black eyed peas and greens.
- Just fine Mama, just fine.
- Would you like some
spiced peaches, Mr. Barnes?
- Oh yes ma'am.
Sure looks good.
- Are you a cousin or a niece?
- Neither one.
- Oh, this is Cindy McDougal.
And I think she's one
of the smartest girls
in Seminole City.
She got a college degree
and she came back home
to teach here.
- Well it's nice
to meet you, Cindy.
- It's a great
pleasure to meet you.
- This is Richard Barnes.
- How are you?
- Hello Cindy.
- Hey I better make
the iced tea, okay?
- I'll help you!
- No sit down and talk,
I'll take care of it.
- All right.
- Well Mama.
Tell me all about it.
- Well there ain't
much to tell, son.
There was 214 people
at that factory.
And every one of
'em got laid off.
- That's right Arthur, every
employee is out of work.
And that includes just
about everybody outside.
- Now I know it's gonna be
harder than what we think,
but that overall
company is all we got.
It ain't like over
in Pomona Springs.
They got the parachute factory.
- Doing good too, that's
what Little Henry tells me.
- Oh we doing real good.
We supposed to get another
contract from the government
pretty soon.
- What were they planning
to do with the factory,
just let it stand there?
- No, I think the board
plans on Mr. Neely buying it
at the auction.
- Mm hmm, and he owns the bank.
- I remember.
- Neely says he's
going to tear it down,
try to sell the land.
- And that's why we phoned you.
- Good evening everybody.
Hope I ain't too late.
- Here's Brother Rambo.
He came over
especially to meet you.
- Heard all about your money.
- Evening Sister Fox.
Brother Henry.
Now got here as soon as I could.
Is this here your boy?
- Yes sir, this
is my son Arthur.
- It's a privilege and
a blessing Brother Fox.
I can't tell you how
much it means to us
having you come down
here and help us
with our little project.
- Well you know how it is
brother, when Mama calls-
- A good son answers.
Yes I know, and the Lord
will send down a blessing
for your faithfulness.
- This is Richard
Barnes, Brother Rambo.
- A great pleasure, great
pleasure Mr. Barnes.
- All mine, the
pleasure's all mine.
- I hope you haven't
eaten yet Brother Rambo.
- Oh, I just had a
snack before I came.
- Well you just sit down
there and help yourself.
[upbeat music]
- We'll talk some more later
on Brother Fox, I'm sure.
Right now you must be
tired from your trip.
- That's true.
I'm on a schedule delay.
- All right son.
[murmuring]
- Can I have some of that
spiced peaches Cindy?
- I talked to the
lawyer today myself,
and he's gonna take you
through the plant tomorrow.
Sit down, son.
Now Arthur, I don't want
you to feel as though you
got to help us.
But we've been so
keyed up lately
that I just don't
know what to do.
- I wanna talk about
something else, Mama.
- What?
- Why you treat
Pat the way you do.
Pat drove in with
us this evening
and he wouldn't even
come into this house.
- That thing, that's
understandable.
- Pat's a man, Mama.
One of the best.
He's also my partner.
For a long time he was
just like your other son.
Whatever we got now we started
together because of you.
- I don't want to talk about it.
- You raised the both of
us just like we was one.
And when we grew up, when
we left home you just
crossed him out like he was
something from another world.
- I raised you
because you was mine.
I raised him because I had to.
When his mama died I took him in
because I wasn't about to see
no orphan grow up around me.
But the minute I took
him in trouble started.
He started trying
to make you white
and you trying to
make him black.
And when you were kids you
were cussing and fighting
all the time.
And when you got bigger
you were drinking
and whoring around and
you're still doing it.
Now you both have done good,
but you ain't done right.
Now maybe I do have to accept
it from you 'cause you're mine
but I sure don't have to
accept it from no Pat Wolf.
And that's all I
got to say about it.
[mellow music]
- Car's unpacked.
Your stuff's in
the front bedroom.
- Good.
- Say.
Something I like
to ask you about.
- Sure.
- Well here about two
years ago I seen a copy
of that there magazine,
you know the Fox Lair?
- Yeah, that one.
- Yeah, and in this
one I seen they had
a big thing about you.
You know and all them pictures.
All about your cars
and that airplane
and you know the
nightclub and the pool
and you know where you live.
- Right.
- Well I been
meaning to ask you.
Is all that real?
- Well the car and
the plane, that's just
to get around in.
You know?
- Yeah.
- And well the club,
that's got to look good,
that's the business.
- Sho'nuff.
Well what about that
penthouse apartment of yours?
I mean...
- They just stuck it in
man, they said they'd
make it look good.
I got a couple little old rooms
over the club, that's all.
- What about that gal
in that bathtub, Arthur?
I mean...
[chuckling]
- No man, hell!
I felt stupid as hell getting
in there with that woman.
But they made me do it, they
said it would add style.
You know?
[laughing]
- I don't believe this.
- Steady old man.
- Afternoon sir.
- Hope we're not late.
- Reverend Rambo, no
sir it's all right,
we've only been here
a minute ourselves.
- Oh that's good, good.
- Is this-
- AJ Fox.
You know, Hattie Fox's boy.
- Mr. Fox it's a pleasure sir.
I'm Cunningham Calhoun.
Heard a lot about you
when I was in law school.
- Mr. Barnes.
- Mr. Barnes,
howdy do sir?
- Brother Rambo.
- Mr. Neely.
- Sure.
So you know that
note's been overdue for
a couple of weeks now.
- Oh well you know I
been kinda busy lately,
you know with the
collecting and all.
We collected $14,445
and just as soon
as this plant's back
on its feet again
I'm gonna pay off that debt.
- All right.
- Mr. Fox, I'd like to
introduce Mr. TH Neely,
president of the local bank.
- How are you?
- Mr. Frankford,
manager of the plant.
- It's a pleasure
to know you Mr. Fox.
- This is Mr. Barnes.
- How do you do Mr. Barnes?
- Mr. Neely.
- Mr. Barnes.
- Pleasure to know you.
- Mr. Calhoun's requested that
I show you through the plant.
- We appreciate your
taking the time.
- Oh think nothing of it.
I'm always glad to
show someone the place.
It's quite a historical
landmark you know.
[light harmonica music]
This original building
was an arsenal
for the Confederate Army,
17th infantry brigade.
Commanded by Brigadier
General KT Framingham
who was the paternal great
grandfather of the last
owner of the company.
If you'll just come in
here now, watch your step.
Come on through please.
The general was owed
some amount of money
at the conclusion of the
war, and as the government
in Richmond was in
disarray at the time,
general settled the matter
by taking possession
of this building and 2
or 300 bales of cotton
that were stored inside.
But as the business
expanded it became necessary
for them to move
into the basement.
Family made do in these
quarters for some 15 years.
Til profits from the
company made it possible
to expand the plant and
build a new home nearby.
- AJ this is the damndest
mess I ever seen.
You get into this and you'll
have a disaster on your hands.
- I got eyes.
But look here, if
this is all there is
what does that little
beady eyed little man
want with it?
- However gentlemen
this is the property
that'll be on the
auction block tomorrow.
If there are any questions?
- Yes, if I may.
Are there any other
properties or buildings
included in the deal?
- Ah well there is the Seminole
Hills development acreage
outside of town.
- Means it's a swamp.
- Would you care to see
that acreage also sir?
- I see.
No I don't think
that'll be necessary.
Thank you very much
for showing us through.
- Thank you.
- Mr. Frankford.
- Thank you.
- Mr. Neely.
Gentlemen.
[mellow music]
It ain't necessarily so Mama.
Probably all he wants to do
is tear it down like he said.
It wouldn't take much,
just stomp your foot and...
- Now listen here.
It seems to me that you
been up north so long
that you done forgot what
it's like around here.
Why them old most
bastard brothers
see that factory torn
down than see any progress
made in this town.
Because any progress
left is black progress.
- Well that's exactly my point.
It isn't progress to get
saddled with an old fire trap
like that.
- If that's what we
got to start with
then that's what it'll
be, that and spirit.
Now it seems to me the
way you acted in there
that I made a mistake by
asking you to come down here.
All you could see was a
building, and machines.
You done got to the point
where you don't
see people no more.
So you just go on back to your
nightclub and your oil wells
and your women.
- Mama.
- Just go on.
We got our money together.
And if you can't add
anything but money,
we got plenty of
that so just go on.
- I think I'll stick around
and see how you make out.
- It's left up to you.
[bells tolling]
- Do you know them?
- The little man is Mr.
Neely's brother in law.
I don't know who
the other man is,
I think he's from around Mobile.
- Uh huh.
- Yeah I saw him in
the bank last Friday.
- I see.
- That's him there.
What do you think?
- They're bluffing.
- Yeah I think so.
[murmuring]
- Say Arthur. I got you
a seat saved up here.
- I think we can see better
if we sit back there.
- Oh.
How you doing?
- Ladies and gentlemen,
may I have your attention
for a moment please?
At this time we stand ready
to receive the first bid.
Mr. Washington.
- Mr. Calhoun.
We bid $10,000.
[cheering]
- $10,000 is the bid.
- Mr. Calhoun.
- Mr. Neely.
- Wish to bid $14,500.
- $14,500 is the bid.
Do I hear further bids?
- 15,000.
[murmuring]
- 18,000.
- $18,000 is bid.
- $20,000.
[audience applauding]
[audience cheering]
- You gonna save the day, right?
- That's right.
- Further bids please.
- $25,000.
- $25,000 is bid.
- 27,500.
- Do I hear further bids?
- Do you know what you're doing?
- Damn sure ain't what
they want me to do.
- $35,000.
- $35,000 is bid.
Further bids please.
- 50,000.
- Mr. Calhoun.
- Mr. Neely.
- The First State Bank of
Seminole City bids $100,000.
- $100,000.
- Thurmond Neely, have
you lost your mind?
- Shut up, let me be!
- $100,000 is bid.
Do I hear further bids?
- 125.
- Sir?
- $125,000.
[clears throat]
- $125,000 is bid,
ladies and gentlemen.
Do I hear further bids?
- Mr. Calhoun.
- Mr. Neely.
- I want to request a recess.
- Mr. Calhoun?
- Yes.
- My bid is $125,000.
Will that bid be honored or not?
- Yes sir it is
honored, be assured.
- Damnit I gotta call Mobile!
- Well Mr. Neely, I just
don't see how an auction
may be recessed and besides
I don't think it'll do
too much good to call Mobile.
- Get the hell back here!
[snickering]
Mr. Calhoun.
- Yes sir.
- We still gotta recess.
How do we know whether that
man's bid is good or not?
- We've already considered
the need for verification
of our bid sir.
We have something here that
might solve this matter
very quickly.
These are letters of credit from
the three largest
banks in New York.
Any one of them is
enough to cover this bid.
- Anybody can write
a letter, sign it.
It don't mean a thing.
- That's true, it's
only paper Mr. Neely.
So is this.
[crowd murmuring]
- Uh, gentlemen.
I think we should proceed.
For the sum of $125,000.
Going once.
Going twice.
Sold!
[bangs gavel]
[cheering]
[shouting]
[upbeat music]
- Brothers and sisters.
This is truly a great day.
A great day I tell you.
- Yes sir!
- And bears one more
witness to the fact
that the Lord do provide.
Do you understand what
I'm talking about?
- Yes sir!
- Do you hear me?
- Yeah!
- Say amen!
- Amen!
- Say it again!
- Amen!
- All right.
- Uncle Henry?
- Yeah?
- Let's go look around
that swamp this afternoon.
- Well I can take you.
I know my way around
there as well as anybody.
[mysterious music]
That was so fine.
Mr. Calhoun.
Bank of Seminole City
wishes to bid $100,000.
Uh, 125.
I never saw anything get
to old Neely like that
or his old wife either.
- Yeah it didn't look
like I did what they
wanted me to do huh?
Whatever it is they
thought they had
must be in here somewhere.
Why don't we try
up that way, Cindy?
- Seems like it's
getting shallower to me.
- Give me that pole.
It's been a long time since
I've pushed a skiff around.
- What are you
going in here for?
I never noticed that before.
- I betcha somebody else did.
- How about that?
What is it AJ?
- Can't say for sure.
Some folks might think
it was natural gas.
- Really?
- Mm hmm.
We're burning Cindy!
Get up there and put it out.
Go on, put it out!
- I'm trying!
Would you get us out of
here before we burn up?
- Mr. Fox you looking real cool.
- Yeah.
Style, baby.
- What do you think'll
be done with that stuff?
You got any plans?
- Not yet.
Pat's the expert on gas and oil.
Course if it's good and
there's enough of it.
No telling.
Wanna go for a swim?
- No I think I'll pass on that.
[chuckles]
[gentle music]
How about the factory?
- We better face it.
There isn't much future
in making overalls.
- Well not the old way.
I mean we've got some
surprises in store.
We've got some new
ideas and we got
some different procedures.
You'll see.
- I didn't say we
weren't gonna reopen.
Everybody's going back to work.
Gonna need every good
idea you can come up with.
- Well you know what I think?
- What's that?
- I think you care
just as much as anybody
about keeping this
old town going.
- Is that right?
- I think there's a lot
of things you care about.
- Swamp gas?
- That's right.
You find it all over down here.
Seeps up in patches of bubbles.
Kinda smells like
a goat, don't it?
- What do you figure?
Do you think they
might have known
and just used it as a come
on to jack up the price?
- Nah.
If Thurman Neely's anything
like we're remembering
he wouldn't be that bright.
I think he figured
he had something else
he wouldn't have jacked
the price up 100,000.
- Could be.
- What's that?
- Oh the dog.
- Well I better get
the hell outta here
before Mama gets back.
What are you figuring
on doing about all this?
- Think I'll pay a
call down at the bank.
See if I can sell
some real estate.
[chuckling]
- Well it just wouldn't be
possible, don't you see?
Now I'm never adverse
to such a thing myself,
but the directors
just wouldn't approve
that large a loan
for speculation.
Now if it were a
question of 10, 15,000.
- Uh, I'm afraid our project
will just have to wait
until we recover enough funds.
Thank you very much for
your time, Mr. Neely.
Good luck to you sir.
- Thank you, and
the same to you.
Mr. Fox.
- Yes sir?
- Tell you I been thinking.
Now I can understand don't
you see as a business man.
Now in all fairness
to your situation
and in appreciation
for what you're doing
for the factory and all,
I'd like to help you out
by a personal offer.
Say, $50,000 for
that swamp acreage.
What do you say?
- Well I hadn't considered
selling Mr. Neely,
but looking at it
realistically and knowing
the potential value of a
gas deposit in that swamp,
I'd say $100,000 wasn't just
reasonable, it's a steal.
- Well.
Well why don't we just
step inside a minute?
[funky music]
Let me make a call to Mobile.
Sit down, make
yourself comfortable.
Mary Ellen, could you bring
some coffee in please?
- Cindy drew this so you could
see what we're aiming for.
Now we know there's not much
market in men's overalls.
But we think we got the
makings of women's wear.
- Mm hmm.
- This is the last one, Arthur.
- Thanks Uncle.
Got something going here Mama.
I think you're on
the right track.
I gotta go.
- AJ.
Now we've talked about
it and we want you
to take the money we
collected because it just
isn't fair to ask you
to carry the whole load
all by yourself.
- You turn it back to the
people that contributed, huh?
- No, wait a minute now-
- Now look. I ain't
gonna hear it.
- Thank you.
- Yeah, next time.
- Brother Fox, I do wish
you'd stay and worship with us
Sunday, I think you'd
find it a great blessing.
- Arthur done left a
great blessing, brother.
- Son.
I'm so proud of you.
Now you take care of
yourself, and you write us.
- I will Mama.
I will.
Uncle.
We'll keep in touch.
- Yeah.
- Well.
I guess you're looking forward
to getting back up there.
All those bright
lights and fancy clubs.
- Hey.
- And women.
- Look here.
- Goodbye Mr. Barnes.
- Bye Cindy.
- I wanna be in the
air by six o'clock.
[upbeat funky music]
- Oughta catch him
[mumbles] right?
- Yeah, Putnam's next.
- People damn sure stay
laughing in front of me.
Til I tell you to slow down.
Right.
There he is!
- Yeah?
- Keep ahead of him.
- He's picking up.
- Get in this lane,
get in this lane.
Slow down, slow down.
[gun fires]
[jazzy music]
- Welcome home.
What'd you say your name was?
- Arthur J. Fox.
The overall king.
I wanna see Pickett.
- He hasn't gotten here yet.
He probably got tied up in the-
[dramatic music]
[sirens wailing]
- Say girl, what
you doing later?
- Oh, I've got a date.
- Oh yeah, who's that?
- Oh, this dude
says he lives here
but he's sure out of town a lot.
- AJ.
That was Liutenant
McGowan on the phone,
says we should get over to
Putnam and Oak Lawn right away.
He's waiting for us there.
[dramatic music]
[sirens wailing]
- AJ it looked like
a shotgun blast
right through the window.
He was probably dead before
he even hit that ditch.
Seems like there
weren't any witnesses.
We got a couple ideas so
we're gonna stay hot on it.
- So have I.
[upbeat funky music]
- Look out!
I know where he's going,
we gotta follow him.
- Okay hit it.
- Put this shit
away, AJ's coming up.
Come on.
Say man ain't nobody
ever took off AJ.
Why don't you go down then?
- Get down to the door.
- Oh why don't you go?
- He's right in back of us!
- Back of me?
- Just hold your gun on him.
Maybe get him in the
ship, blow him away.
If he don't...
- Just blow him away, that's
all there is to it huh?
- Hey go on.
- That's all it is.
Why you wanna set me up?
- What's the matter, you yella?
- Why don't you go down?
- Hey look at your size man.
He's just a little dude.
- If he's so little why
don't you just go down
and take him off?
- Man, what you get paid for?
[door slams]
[funky music]
[shouting]
[scuffling]
[sirens wailing]
- Wake up, Snuffy.
It's Christmas.
Snow is falling.
Santa Claus is on the way.
[police radio chatter]
Well I'm a little pressed
for time right now Mama.
Yeah, that's right,
I own Fox's Lair.
Oh I don't know,
let me make a call
and I'll get back to you.
Hold on a second.
Hey wait a minute.
- Sorry baby, I'll see
you when you get back.
Whenever that is.
- Yeah Mama, go ahead.
No no, nothing important.
Um yeah okay look let me
see what I can do about it
and I'll get back
to you. Okay, bye.
Overalls.
Velma?
Yeah would you get
Barnes on the phone?
And call Hugo and tell
him he's got two weeks
to get a promotion
campaign together
for the new Dixie overall...
The new Dixie fashion line.
That's right, tell him to
coordinate with Uncle Henry.
Hmm.
We're migrating south.
- What do you suppose
all that commotion's
about over yonder?
[murmuring]
- Fella told me the black
foxes are coming in.
- What in the hell
is the black foxes?
- Oh, that's a basketball
team somewhere.
[funky music]
- How are things doing
down here Uncle Henry?
- Doing just fine.
Everything'll be
ready by the morning.
- Well that's good.
Is everybody placed now?
- All except Barney,
Cecille, and Barnes.
- Does anybody want
a glass of lemonade?
- I could use a
good bed right now.
- Well say no more.
You can have mine, I'll sleep
out on the porch tonight.
- The porch?
You mean with the
bugs and stuff?
- Oh come on honey,
this is down home.
You remember sleeping outside?
- Where I grew up
might be able to
if you were sleeping in a cage.
- Mother would you-
[shouting]
- Ooh I'll get a towel!
[slapping]
[tapping]
- Miss Blair?
- Yes?
- Sounds like you're having
a little trouble sleeping.
- Not really.
It's these mosquitoes
that have got insomnia.
- Oh I got just
the thing for that.
Wait just one minute.
[light music]
[knocking]
Miss Blair?
- Just a second.
- Got something
for the mosquitoes
and a little something
to help you sleep.
- Oh well thank you.
- Lemonade.
Imagine it's been a long
time since you had any
country style lemonade.
[coughing]
- You could say that again.
What'd you put in this?
- Just a little medicinal gin.
I find it relaxing
after a hard day.
- More like medicinal
battery acid.
What's this?
- Citronella, that's to
keep the mosquitoes off.
- And everything else too.
- Oh, you hardly notice the
smell at all once it's on.
Here let me show you.
You see?
- Yeah, hardly at all.
- Oh it'll soak in
in just a minute.
Now Miss Blair,
I don't want you to get
the wrong impression.
- I never get the
wrong impression.
Goodnight.
Brother Rambo.
- Yes?
- I appreciate the lemonade.
- Oh, think nothing of it.
- Right.
[people chattering]
- We'll do with the best sent.
- Okay Mama, hold on a second.
Say man, got it together?
- Oh everything's fine.
You know I'm really amazed.
Two weeks of setup and
it's actually organized.
- All it takes is spirit.
- I guess so.
Yeah, excuse me for a minute.
Cindy.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Those are for the
showing, aren't they?
- That's right.
- You're gonna be
one of the models?
- Yeah they insisted on it.
I was up half the night
memorizing my speech.
- You'll do fine.
It's fun once you get into it.
- Well I hope so.
- I'll see you later.
- Bye bye.
- Uh, Bonnie?
- Mm hmm?
- Maybe I shouldn't ask.
But what in the hell is
that perfume you got on?
- Eau de citronella.
Local product.
May be your turn for
a free sample tonight.
[funky music]
- Hattie, telephone!
- All right.
Honey, will you take these
clothes to Uncle Henry
and tell him that they're
for the show this afternoon?
- Mm hmm.
- All right?
Okay, I'm coming.
- Tired honey?
- Got me changing
clothes so much my skin's
about worn through.
- You upset about something?
- Yes I am.
- About the factory and all?
- That's right.
- Well I been meaning to
have a say about that.
Maybe we oughta
have a little talk.
- Yeah well maybe so.
- You know I'm becoming
more and more disturbed
about the attitude of
certain people around here
and if I ever...
♪ Gotta get down
down down down ♪
♪ Way down
[audience applauding]
[scat singing]
[audience applauding]
- May I have your attention?
Has everybody had a good time?
- [Crowd] Yeah!
- Did everybody
get enough to eat?
- [Crowd] Yeah!
- Good, good.
Well in addition to good
food and good music,
we've seen some pretty women.
- Right on.
- Right on.
- And some beautiful clothes.
- Yeah!
- You really laid 'em out.
- Yeah.
Most of 'em ain't
seen this much woman
since they read the
National Geographic.
Some crowd.
Did you see that old dude
about to beat his hands off?
His old lady jumping on his ass?
- You think this is
gonna start something?
- Hell no.
It's just another waste of time.
I'm ready to get
back to civilization.
I've had it with hick
towns and ignorant rubes
and horny preachers. [laughing]
- We'll be sending
you regular reports.
- Mama have you given
any more thought
to letting me get you
a place in the city?
- Oh, I think we're
needed right here.
- Whatever you say.
All right Uncle, don't
let her work too hard now.
- I won't.
- Take care son.
- Bye.
- So now we're out
100,000 on your say so,
and another 25,000 for the
drilling on your say so.
And you didn't even have a
sample tested to start with.
- Well it smelled awful gassy.
- Not only that,
you practically gave
the damn factory to him.
Now how do you think
that's gonna set with 'em
when they hear about
that down in Mobile?
You let yourself get
took, just bald as hell.
Now what do you
got to say for it?
- Well I figured it
could be that rich,
but damnit who ever
heard of one that smart?
- I'll be goddamned.
[machines whirring]
[murmuring]
- Man it sure is hot
this time of year.
- It sure is.
- I don't know what we gonna do.
- Hey Cindy.
- Cindy, come here!
Why don't you tell them we
need some air conditioner
around here?
- I'm liable to tell them
a lot more than that.
- Oh hey.
- You take that on a man.
- I'm telling you.
- Now you done seen all these
naked women 'round here.
Puttin' evil thoughts
into the minds
of god fearing people.
- You right sir.
- And you know about
the sweatshop factory!
- Yes sir.
- Yes.
- And I just think that
this ain't god's way.
- You right.
- Do you know
what I'm talking about?
[cheering]
Do you understand what
I'm trying to tell you?
- Rambo is getting awful
agitated here lately.
- I guess with most
folks working every night
they too tired to go
to revival meetings.
- Yeah that means
old collection plate
is getting lighter and
lighter and lighter.
[laughing]
- Listen kids, I hate to
break up your love affair
but come on, let's
go back to work.
- Good morning.
- Morning Cindy.
Have you taken care of
all the new employees?
- Yeah.
- What's the matter baby?
- Nothing.
- There's gotta be something
the matter the way you actin'.
- Nothing's the matter with me.
Well I been thinking
about going back
to teaching school is all.
- Well.
If that's what you want to do,
but we sure need you here.
You're the best personnel
manager we can get.
- Or money can buy as
Arthur J. Fox would say.
- Now what do you mean by that?
- I mean this whole
thing has gotten to be
just another rip
off, that's what.
- Oh honey.
You can't believe that.
After all we've been through?
- We're turning into a
bunch of exporters down here
serving the interests of an
absentee black capitalist?
Exploiting black labor?
We're no better than
old man Framingham.
- Now what's the
matter with her?
- Nothing's the matter with me.
I'm just the only one that
hasn't let it go to my head.
I don't feel that well, I
need a couple of days off.
- Yeah now, what's going on?
- Brother, there will be
no more work performed
in this factory until this
matter is brought to a head.
- What matter is that?
- Y'all come on in here.
- Cindy, come in here.
- Now we've been
elected to represent
the rest of the workers
in this here plant.
Now the matter is
cleaner and more sanitary
places to perform the work.
Less safety hazards.
More air conditioning
and better pay.
Less working overtime.
Paid sick leave.
And time off for attending
religious services.
Profit sharing plan!
And a 10% tithe to some
deserving organization
or religious organization.
Now.
[light music]
[phone ringing]
- Hello?
- Mr. Fox?
This is Frankford
down at the factory.
I thought you oughta know
we got a real emergency
down here right now.
It's Brother Rambo, he's
in the plant and he's
stirring up the employees
about everything.
Yeah.
- Yeah well I figured
that might happen.
[sighs]
Don't worry, just keep calm.
Okay.
- Even if it means less profit
for that absentee
holder of this company,
who I might add refused to let
us buy into our own factory
after we had worked so
hard to collect the money.
- That is a great
sermon brother.
Would have been even
better if you had known
what you were talking about.
- Brother, nobody
knows better than me
when my people are
being treated unfairly.
- Baloney!
Your people?
Your people hell!
- Now you listen here-
- Now hold on there.
Let's go about this
thing sensibly.
Now this matter of
absentee ownership.
- Yes, where is he?
I mean Mr. AJ Fox.
He's taking life easy
while we're down here
sweating out money for him.
- Arthur doesn't make any
money from this company.
And never did.
- Just what do you mean?
That don't make no sense to me.
- Let me finish!
- He gets no money?
- No honey, he doesn't.
- Well who does?
- We do.
- Now let me ask you something.
Is there anything in writing
regarding this matter?
- Yes there is.
[funky music]
Profits from said
company shall be directed
at first toward an
educational scholarship
for deserving children
of the black community.
And at such time as
further profits allow
there shall be established
within the township
of Seminole City a four
year liberal arts college.
The precise location of
which shall be determined
by the trustees
of the foundation.
You might want to check
this over Reverend
to see if I read it correctly.
Now the foundation mentioned
is strictly non-profit,
chartered by the state.
And since Mr. Fox owns no
businesses in the state,
he doesn't even get
a tax write-off.
- Now you hold on
there just a minute.
Ain't you trying to
get past something?
Now just who are these trustees?
- Tell him who they are.
- Oh, it's right here.
The following individuals
have been designated
as trustees for the foundation.
Mrs. Hattie Fox.
Mr. Henry David Washington.
Mr. Ernest Frankford.
Mr. Cunningham Calhoun.
Miss Cindy McDougal.
And the Reverend
Everett L. Rambo.
If we could have the last
three signatures please.
- Excuse me.
- If it's all right with you
brother we going back to work.
- Here's a pen brother, sign it.
- I never thought
I'd see the day
that I would be glad to see you.
- Well I was half
expecting you to throw
one of your hissy fits like the
last time we saw each other.
[laughing]
But AJ was so damn
insistent that I come over
I thought I'd better
take the chance.
I'm glad I did, Mama.
- Arthur told me
that you got married.
- Yes ma'am.
I got a fine wife, and
two kids nearly grown.
- Should give Arthur a
push, he's still dangling.
[laughing]
- Well, don't you
think it's about time
that you should bring 'em around
and let me see what
they look like?
- Yes ma'am.
Bye Mama.
Uncle Henry.
Let's go Simmons.
- Did you see that chauffer?
- Looked mighty fine.
- I don't see why he
couldn't give that job
to some nice colored fella.
- Oh mama.
- Mm?
- Yeah.
- How's your girlfriend?
- Who, Bonnie?
- I don't recall her name.
[chuckles]
- Well Bonnie's out
on the coast now.
Got herself a motion
picture contract.
She probably got half of
Hollywood up a tree by now.
So what happened to
Rambo's old tent?
- He folded and gone.
He said something
about the lord's hand
leading him into
greener pastures.
He's been gone
almost a month now.
You haven't said what this
secret mission is all about.
- What's that?
- All the mystery.
Mama asking me to pick
you up from the airport?
- Oh when Frankford
telephoned me I called Mama.
I thought I'd better come
down here and see how
the problems at the factory
were being worked out.
When I landed, there you were.
And here we are.
- Disappointed?
- No, pleased actually.
This is much nicer
than the factory.
- Would you like
some black eyed peas?
- I would like
some of everything.
Thank you.
Cindy, why did
you bring me here?
- Well any woman
knows the first thing
a man needs is feeding.
I mean the factory is there
and it'll be all right now.
- This is good.
- And this is not
the Sunday special.
- Go ahead.
- You know sometimes
you amaze me.
- How's that?
- Well most of the
time you're so cool
and businesslike
and other times.
- Other times what?
- Other times Mr.
Fox you are easy.
- Cindy how'd you like
to try the city with me
first thing in the morning?
For a while?
- When I move, and if I move,
my man is gonna be mine.
[rotary phone dialing]
- Barnes.
Yeah.
Um, I'm gonna be staying
down here for a while.
Well look I mean the
factory's gonna be needing,
you know, more attention
than I thought and
there's some other things too.
Of course I mean it.
It looks like you
got yourself a man.
I thought you were
supposed to feed me first.
Now don't this beat a
damn stinking swamp?
- Mm hmm.
- All the crawdads watching.
- Mm.
[sultry music]
[phone ringing]
- Yeah?
- Arthur?
Is that you?
Arthur?
Now listen to me son.
Little Henry's here.
They got trouble over
in Pomona Springs.
Arthur?
Do you know anything
about parachutes?
[funky music]
♪ A playboy he is
♪ That's the man's game
♪ Yeah
♪ He knows where he's headed
♪ Fox style his name
♪ What a catch
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah Fox style is his name
♪ Yeah
♪ He's a mother of a dude
♪ And girls he's cool
♪ Now that's his game
♪ Yeah
♪ His rap has a clue
♪ Everything about
him is smooth ♪
♪ The ladies strut
♪ Yeah
♪ With two chicks on his arm
♪ He has so much charm
♪ He knows so much
♪ Fox style
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
♪ He drives a long
black limousine ♪
♪ And man he's clean
♪ Fox style
♪ From a very small
town he came ♪
♪ Trying to make
his game pay off ♪
♪ And he did
♪ Oh Fox style ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style
♪ Yeah
♪ Oh Fox style ain't no jive
♪ Running wild
♪ Man alive
♪ Fox style, woo