French Quarter (1978) - full transcript
Chronicles the life of a young New Orleans prostitute and her co-workers.
- CHRIS, WE'RE JUST GOING OVER
YOUR FATHER'S ESTATE
AND ACCOUNTS.
AND NEAR AS I CAN FIGURE,
WHAT WITH SELLING THE BOAT
TO COVER HIS DEBTS,
AND THE TAXES ON THE COTTAGE,
YOU'RE JUST ABOUT $3,000
IN THE HOLE.
OF COURSE,
THERE'S THE ACCOUNTING
AND MY LEGAL FEE ON TOP OF THAT.
- SHE WAS ONE OF
THOSE GIRLS WHO COME ALONG
ABOUT AS OFTEN
AS SNOW IN THE BAYOU.
AND SHE WAS ON THE RUN.
I COULD TELL THAT.
HELL, GIRLS LIKE THAT ARE ALWAYS
ON THE RUN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
SOME OF 'EM ARE RUNNING
FROM SOMETHING.
SOME ARE RUNNING FOR SOMETHING.
SOME ARE RUNNING TO SOMETHING.
SOME OF THEM ARE JUST RUNNING.
AND AROUND HERE,
THEY ALL RUN TO NEW ORLEANS.
THEY CALL IT
"THE CITY THAT CARE FORGOT."
[wolf whistle]
THE FACES NEVER CHANGE.
THE STORIES NEVER CHANGE.
AND THE FRENCH QUARTER,
HELL, THE FRENCH QUARTER STAYS
THE SAME.
KNEW HER?
YEAH, I KNEW HER EVEN
BEFORE I SAW HER.
SHE LOOKED AROUND FOR A WHILE,
DID A LOT OF WALKING,
DID A LOT OF SITTING.
THEY ALWAYS DO THAT,
WALK LIKE THAT,
SIT LIKE THAT.
LIKE BIRDS WHEN THEIR CRUMBS
ARE THINNIN' OUT.
SHE WAS LOOKING FOR HER DREAMS
IN THE TIMES-PICAYUNE.
MAN, THERE'S ONE THING I KNOW
ABOUT NEW ORLEANS:
ANYBODY THAT WANTS SOMETHING
REAL BAD
IS GONNA GET IT REAL BAD.
CHRISTINE DELAPLANE
WAS THAT RARE GUMBO,
A MIXTURE OF HALF CHILD,
HALF GIRL,
AND ALL WOMAN.
NOTHING REALLY STOPPED HER.
SHE TRIED EVERYTHING.
SHE WAS SO SIMPLE,
SO VULNERABLE.
IT MADE HER A SNAP DETAIL.
THAT'S ME,
IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED,
IN THE STRIPED SWEATER.
SHE HAD THAT LOOK
THAT MADE MEN ACHE,
MADE THEM WANT TO DO SOMETHING
THEY KNEW THEY SHOULDN'T.
BUT I JUST HELD BACK,
LET MY EYES DO THE WALKING
THROUGH THAT YELLOW HAIR.
I KNEW IT WAS COMING.
A GIRL LIKE THAT,
IT HAD TO.
SHE TRIED.
ANKLED HERSELF INTO EVERY
RAT HOLE OF THE VIEUX CARREZ--
THAT'S WHAT THE LOCALS CALL
THE FRENCH QUARTER--
LOOKING FOR THAT JOB,
AND I JUST HUNG ON WATCHIN'
LIKE A GATOR EYEBALLING
A SWAMP BIRD,
WAITIN' FOR THAT STRIKE.
SHE HAD GUTS,
BUT IT WAS A LOSIN' GAME.
- CAN I GET SOME LUNCH, PLEASE?
- IF YOU CAN DRINK IT.
- UH, I'D LIKE
A OYSTER SANDWICH.
- KITCHEN'S CLOSED.
YOU WANT A BEER?
HEY, LISTEN.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
- YEAH.
I JUST HAVEN'T HAD MUCH SLEEP,
THAT'S ALL.
- WELL, HOLD YOUR HAUNCH.
I'LL SEE IF I CAN BANG YOU UP
A CHEESE SANDWICH.
IS THAT OKAY?
- THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC.
YOU KNOW,
YOUR SIGN OUT FRONT SAYS
THAT YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR SOME HELP.
- I AIN'T.
HE IS.
- THOMASON, BURT THOMASON.
IDA SAYS YOU'RE AN OLD FRIEND.
COURSE I DON'T BELIEVE MUCH
WHAT IDA SAYS.
- I'M LOOKING FOR WORK.
- YEAH, THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
- UH, 21.
MY NAME'S CHRIS DELAPLANE.
- PLEASED TO MEET YOU.
- WHAT IS IT EXACTLY YOU DO?
- WHAT IS IT EXACTLY
YOU WANT DONE?
- YOU EVER DONE ANY COOKIN'?
- COURSE I HAVE.
- CLEANIN'?
WAITIN' TABLES.
- [laughs]
SURE I HAVE.
- NOW, WHAT IS IT
YOU'RE RUNNING AWAY FROM?
- I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
- YOU SEE THE LITTLE RED LINES?
NOW, THAT'S FROM HOME CLEANIN'.
AND THE SORES ON IDA'S,
THAT'S FROM BAR CLEANING.
- YOU WATCH YOUR MOUTH,
OR I'LL SHOVE THESE FINGERS
WHERE THE MOON DON'T SHINE.
HE'D LOVE IT TOO.
- I NEED A JOB.
- YEAH.
AND I NEED A TOPLESS DANCER.
- OH, WHY DON'T
YOU KNOCK IT OFF?
- I SUPPOSE YOU'VE DONE SOME
OF THAT TOO.
- I CAN DANCE.
- YOU SURE NEED A JOB BAD ENOUGH
TO MAKE ME GUESS
YOU AIN'T GOT SLEEPIN' MONEY
FOR THE NIGHT.
MAYBE NOT ENOUGH
TO PAY FOR THAT SANDWICH.
- YOU'RE NOT GONNA GIVE ME
THAT JOB.
- WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK I MIGHT LOOK
AROUND A WHILE.
I JUST PUT THAT SIGN OUT.
I GOT TO ADMIT,
YOU GOT THE ROUGH QUALIFICATIONS
FOR THE JOB.
- CAN I HAVE THAT JOB?
- WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
YOU COME BACK TONIGHT,
AND BRING SOMETHING
TO AUDITION IN.
LOAN.
- THANK YOU.
- HEY, YOU'RE ON NEXT.
- HOW DO I LOOK?
- AS SOON AS YOU'RE THROUGH,
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
I'LL MEET YOU IN HERE.
- AREN'T YOU GONNA WATCH?
- I CAN HEAR HOW GOOD
YOU'RE DOIN'.
- CRAZY BUNCH OUT THERE.
- NOW, YOU FOLLOW HER,
THE ONE ON YOUR LEFT.
- YOU AUDITIONING?
- YEAH.
- LET'S GO!
- COMING, MOTHER.
- 22 MOTHERFUCKING BUCKS.
IT WAS A GOOD NIGHT.
OOH, SHIT.
DOUBLE SHIT.
YOU TELL BURT YOU'RE OVER 21?
HE WON'T TAKE ANYBODY
WHO AIN'T OVER 21.
- YEAH, I TOLD HIM
I WAS OVER 21.
- I CAUGHT HER ACT FIRST TIME
OUT OF THE STARTIN' GATE
AT BURT THOMASON'S
STORYVILLE BAR.
SHE WAS...DANCING?
- WELL,
I, UH, HOPE Y'ALL LIKED IT.
- ALL RIGHT!
HEY!
DYNAMITE!
DYNAMITE!
RIGHT ON!
- 20 MINUTES ON,
ONE HOUR OFF.
THAT'S WHEN YOU WAIT ON TABLES.
SIX NIGHTS A WEEK,
12:00 NOON TO 4:00 A.M.
- I THINK I SHOULD GO HOME.
- YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.
TRUST ME.
YOU GOT A JOB, A GOOD JOB.
AND I GOT A FEELING
YOU'RE GONNA BE REAL GOOD AT IT.
YOU'RE GONNA BE REAL,
REAL GOOD AT IT.
- AT DANCIN'.
I'M GONNA BE REAL GOOD
AT DANCIN'.
AND AT DANCIN' ALONE!
- WELL, YOU'LL COME AROUND.
BEATS HUSTLIN'.
- IT WAS ONE OF
THOSE RAGIN' CAJUN MORNINGS,
WHEN YOU COULD JUST FEEL THE
STORM WAITING BEHIND THE SUN.
AND THERE SHE WAS STOMPIN' DOWN
DECATUR STREET,
BIG AS LIFE AND MADDER THAN
A MOMMA POSSUM WITH SORE TITS.
- WHAT IS THIS CHECK FOR $25?
I WANT MY MONEY.
YOU OWE ME A WEEK'S PAY!
- THAT'S IT.
THAT IS YOUR MONEY,
PLUS YOUR MEALS,
THE ROOM UPSTAIRS,
AND 25% INTEREST
FOR THE LOAN OF THE COSTUME.
AND YOU WANT TO WATCH
HOW YOU TALK.
- IF THAT'S THE WAY IT IS,
THEN I QUIT.
JUST GIVE ME MY BUS FARE HOME.
JUST GIVE ME MY BUS FARE
BACK HOME!
- YOU GOT A CHECK FOR $25.
- MR. THOMASON,
THIS IS SATURDAY.
THE BANKS ARE NOT OPEN
ON SATURDAYS.
- SO HANG AROUND.
BESIDES,
WE DON'T CASH CHECKS HERE.
- MR. THOMASON.
MR. THOMASON!
- NO!
- ON DELPHINE STREET,
NUMBER 38.
NUMBER 38, THERE'S THIS WOMAN
WHO OWES ME.
FLORINDA BEAUDINE.
BEAUDINE.
SHE LIVES ABOVE AN
ANTIQUE/APOTHECARY SHOP.
SHE'S SITS RENT-FREE
BECAUSE SHE TIDIES UP THE PLACE
FROM TIME TO TIME.
I'LL CALL HER.
SHE'S HELPED A LOT
OF GIRLS LIKE YOU.
MAYBE SHE CAN CASH YOUR CHECK.
NO SWEAT.
SO STOP FRETTIN', YOU HEAR?
SHE'S ALSO INTO VOODOO.
AT LEAST SHE WAS.
SHE'S HARMLESS, THOUGH.
- HELLO?
ANYBODY HOME?
HELLO?
ANYBODY HERE?
- SHE'S JUST GOING INTO
THE ANTIQUE/APOTHECARY.
- FLORINDA BEAUDINE?
- COME IN.
COME IN. SIT DOWN.
IT'S BEEN A LONG CLIMB UP
THOSE STAIRS.
COME ON. SIT DOWN.
I'LL FIX YOU SOME TEA.
IT'S MY SPECIAL BLEND,
AND I MADE IT MYSELF,
AND IT'S DELICIOUS.
- IDA SAYS THAT YOU--
- NOW, YOU JUST SLIP OFF
YOUR SHOES, SIP THIS TEA.
RELAX.
MADAME BEAUDINE IS GOING
TO SOLVE ALL YOUR PROBLEMS.
- IDA SAYS MAYBE THAT YOU CAN
CASH MY CHECK FOR $25.
- NO PROBLEM.
I'LL GET YOU BACK HOME.
NOW, TELL ME SOMETHING
ABOUT YOURSELF, HMM?
ANY BOYFRIENDS?
FAMILY?
- NO.
- RELATIVES, HUH?
- NO.
- WOULD YOU TRY
SOME OF THIS BREAD?
- THANK YOU.
MY MAMA, SHE DIED WHEN
I WAS JUST A KID, YOU KNOW?
MY FATHER DIED A COUPLE
OF WEEKS--COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
- AND?
- WHAT?
- EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE
ALL RIGHT.
YOU'LL SEE.
HOW ABOUT SOME JAM ON IT, HUH?
SOME NICE, FRESH STRAWBERRY JAM.
- EXCUSE ME.
I'M NOT--I'M NOT
FEELING VERY WELL.
UM...UH...
MY--MY HEAD.
MY HEAD IS...
THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF FLU
GOING AROUND OR SOMETHING.
I HOPE I'M NOT GETTING IT.
I'M VERY DIZZY.
- WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO STRETCH
OUT ON THE BED OVER THERE, HUH?
REST A WHILE.
- NO, NO, NO.
I'LL BE OKAY.
I...
UM, MAYBE I BETTER.
- COME ON.
I'LL HELP YOU.
THERE WE GO.
- I KNEW WHAT WAS COOKIN',
ONLY THE CAKE WASN'T READY
TO COME OUT OF THE OVEN.
SO I WAITED.
THAT'S HOW I MAKE MY MONEY,
WAITING.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I GET
A FEELING IN MY BONES
I'VE BEEN WAITING 100 YEARS.
BUT THEN, TIME HAS LITTLE
MEANING IN THE FRENCH QUARTER.
- IT'S ABOUT TIME.
HELLO?
IT'S ME.
YEAH, THE PACKAGE
IS READY FOR DELIVERY.
JUST GIVE ME A FEW DAYS
TO HOOK IT UP.
THE BUYER
SHOULD BE VERY PLEASED.
IT'S A BEAUTY, AND I DON'T THINK
IT'S EVER BEEN USED BEFORE.
- YOU'VE BEEN DREAMIN'
THE FUTURE, MS. TRUDY.
YOU'VE BEEN DREAMIN' THE FUTURE.
- HOW YOU FEELING?
- FINE.
I FEEL FINE.
REALLY, I--FINE.
- YOU'VE BEEN DREAMING.
YOU FAINTED,
AND WE BROUGHT YOU IN HERE.
- HOW--HOW LONG HAVE
I BEEN HERE?
- GIANT HORSELESS CARRIAGES,
FLYING MACHINES THAT CROSS
THE OCEAN,
BOXES WITH MOVING PICTURES,
MEN WHO WALK ON THE MOON.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU
WERE MUMBLING ABOUT.
- HEY, WELCOME BACK TO THE WORLD
OF THE LIVING.
- THANK YOU.
BUT IT WAS SO REAL.
THERE WAS THIS
VOODOO WOMAN THERE.
- WELL, AT LEAST THE FUTURE
HASN'T ABANDONED RELIGION.
- NO, BUT THIS VOODOO WOMAN...
WELL, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
SHE GAVE ME THIS HERB TEA.
SHE GAVE ME HERB TEA.
AND THEN...
- AND THEN WHAT?
- I CAN'T REMEMBER.
- GET DRESSED.
YOU'LL FEEL BETTER.
I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET THE GIRLS.
IN THE MEANTIME,
I WANT YOU TO SEE A DOCTOR.
- WHAT?
- NOW, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE THESE
THINGS STEP BY STEP.
THERE.
YOU CAN COME IN NOW,
DR. MILES.
- WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAME.
- I'M THE MADAME.
THIS IS GERTRUDE DIX.
DR. MILES HAS INVENTED A SALVE
THAT CURES GLEET.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT, DR. MILES?
- KNOCKS THE GLEET
RIGHT OFF ITS FEET.
SEE?
- "DR. MILES SPECIFIC FORMULA,
GUARANTEED TO CURE GONORRHEA
AND GLEET."
- SEND US A DOZEN CASES.
IF THE FIRST CASE OF FREE
SAMPLES IS ANY DAMN GOOD.
WELL, I'LL LEAVE YOU TWO ALONE
TO GET ACQUAINTED.
- OH, UH, MY FEE?
- YOUR CHOICE,
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT 3:00.
IN THE MEANTIME,
HANDS OFF THE HELP.
SHE'S THE VIRGIN.
- HEY, GIVE ME SOME GRITS.
- TELL ME, WHAT DID THE GOOD
DOCTOR SAY, ANYWAY, SILLY?
- SAID HE'D LIKE
TO SEE ME IN THE RAW.
- LADIES.
LADIES!
YOUR ATTENTION.
I HAVE A SURPRISE.
- WELL!
- HOT DAMN!
NEW HELP.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, WILLIE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY SORE ASS.
- THAT'S COKE-EYED LAURA.
WE CALL HER THAT BECAUSE SHE
SNORTED AWAY HER BRAINS.
THIS IS GERTRUDE DIX.
BUT WE'LL CALL HER TRUDY.
- OH, MY STARS AND GARTERS.
HOW NEW IS SHE?
- BRAND SPANKING NEW.
- WELL, NOW, IF THAT'S YOUR IDEA
OF FUN--
- SHE'S A VIRGIN.
THIS IS BIG-BUTT ANNIE.
YOU SAW HER UPSTAIRS.
- ANNIE WILL DO.
- THAT'S ICE BOX JOSIE.
WE HAVE A STANDING OFFER
AROUND HERE.
ANY MAN WHO CAN GET A HEAVY
BREATH OUT OF JOSIE
CAN HAVE HER ON THE HOUSE.
NO MAN'S COME CLOSE
TO THAWING HER OUT YET.
- YOU MUST BE...
PROUD.
- EVERYBODY'S GOT
THEIR BOILING POINT.
- THIS IS BRICKTOP.
A PRINCESS MOST OF THE TIME,
BUT STAY OUT OF HER WAY
WHEN SHE'S DRUNK.
- YOU GET A HOLD
OF VIRGIN AUCTION?
- WELL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME
PICTURES FIRST.
MONSIEUR BELLOCQ WILL BE HERE
TOMORROW MORNING.
ARE YOU UP TO IT?
- YEAH, SURE.
- WHY DON'T YOU LET ICE BOX
JOSIE DO THE SESSION
WITH TRUDY, HUH?
- AND WHY DON'T YOU ANSWER
THE BACK DOOR.
- AT EMMA JOHNSON'S HOUSE,
THEY'D WHIP THE ASS RIGHT OFF
THAT GIRL.
- GOOD MORNING, ALL YOU BIG,
FINE LADIES.
- HI.
- HMM.
IF YOU AIN'T JUST A-DOUBLE
UNHUNG BENDING IN THIS MORNING.
- AND GOOD MORNING TO YOU,
MR. JELLY ROLL.
WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE
SO EARLY IN THE MORNING?
- I'M ALWAYS UP EARLY.
HELL, EARLY TO BED, EARLY
TO RISE, MAKES A MAN HEALTHY
AND WEALTHY
AND DOUBLES HIS DINGLE.
I'VE BEEN UP SINCE NOON.
- GOOD.
WE'RE AUDITIONING
ANOTHER PIANO PLAYER TODAY.
- THE JOHNS CALLED IT
"STORYVILLE".
THE PIMPS CALLED IT
"THE DISTRICT."
A 24-HOUR SEWER
OF GREED AND GRAB,
AND NOTHING
WAS GRABBED AT HARDER
THAN A NEW VIRGIN
OR A NEW PIANO PLAYER.
- THAT AIN'T BAD.
- AIN'T MEANT TO BE.
- WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
- SATCHELMOUTH.
- SATCHELMOUTH?
- YES.
- HI, I'M KID ROSS.
SAY, DO YOU KNOW A LADY
NAMED COUNTESS WILLIE PIAZZA?
- THEY'RE ALL IN THE BLUE BOOK,
MY MAN.
- WHERE'S MY BAG?
WHERE'S MY BAG?
DAMN IT!
WHOEVER STOLE MY BAG,
THERE'S ONLY SHEET MUSIC IN IT.
SO I HOPE YOU CAN PLAY
THE GODDAMN PIANO!
- ALL SHE GOT IS A BED.
THAT'S HER KIND OF MUSIC.
- SHIT!
- SURROUNDED BY THIS SWIRLING
SUMP OF SIN AND SLIME
WAS COUNTESS WILLIE PIAZZA,
WHERE THE SHEETS
WERE CHANGED EVERY DAY
AND THE PIANO WAS RELIGIOUSLY
TUNED ONCE A WEEK.
A POSH PALACE OF DIGNITY
IN THE DUNG HEAP.
- PIANO MAN MORTON,
MEET KID ROSS.
- NO SHIT.
- YOU'LL BOTH BE WORKING
TONIGHT.
IF THE KID'S AS GOOD AS I HEAR,
YOU'LL BE SHARING A PIANO.
- WHAT FOR?
- FOR A WHILE.
- WILLIE HAS THE BEST MUSIC
OF ANY HOUSE OF THE DISTRICT.
- THANK YOU, MA'AM.
- BEST FOOD TOO.
- THE GIRLS
AREN'T TOO BAD EITHER.
- YOU LEAVE 'EM ALONE
IN THE HOUSE.
- HOUSE RULES.
- HI.
- HI.
- YOU'RE FROM, UM...
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, HUH?
- ASBURY PARK.
- ASBURY PARK,
NEW JERSEY.
I NEVER HEARD OF IT.
- WELL, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
- UM, PITTSBURGH.
- PITTSBURGH.
- MM-HMM.
PITTSBURGH.
I COME FROM
AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.
- WHAT?
- AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.
YOU SEE, MY MAMA TOOK ME
TO THIS EMPLOYMENT AGENCY,
AND, WELL, THEY SAID
THAT THEY WERE HIRING A LOT
OF LADIES DOWN SOUTH, SO...
ALTHOUGH I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE,
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS
IS WHAT MY MAMA HAD IN MIND
IN THE WAY OF EMPLOYMENT.
- BY THE WAY,
ARE YOU ANY RELATION
TO A PIANO PLAYER
NAMED JELLY ROLL MORTON?
- I AM JELLY ROLL MORTON.
THEY KNOW ME IN ASSHOLE PARK,
NEW JERSEY?
- THEY DO INDEED.
- I WROTE THAT.
- NO SHIT.
- OH-OOH!
- OH!
- OOH!
- WHOO!
- WHOO-HOO!
WHOO!
YEE-HAW!
WHOA!
- OH!
- OKAY!
- YEAH!
- THERE YOU GO!
WHOO!
LOOK AT THAT!
- OKAY!
- YEAH!
- WHOO-HOO!
- KEEP IT COMING!
- GENTLEMEN, LADIES.
COME JOIN ME
FOR A DANCE BY LADY LIL!
- THE RULES OF THE HOUSE,
BLACK MEN DON'T WATCH
WHITE WOMEN DANCE.
IT'S A RULE, THAT'S ALL.
HERE'S ANOTHER RULE.
ALWAYS CARRY YOURSELF A BLADE.
YOU WANT ONE?
- NO, THANKS.
HEY, WHO'S LADY LIL?
- SHE'S A FANCY UPTOWN LADY.
SHE COMES IN A FEW DAYS HERE
AND THERE.
TAKES ON THE ROUGHEST CUSTOMERS
TOO, AND LEAVES SMILING.
- WILLIE SAID FOR ME TO TELL YOU
THAT YOU WERE FINE.
- YOU MEAN I GOT THE JOB?
- UH-HUH.
- A DOLLAR A NIGHT,
PLUS YOUR TIPS.
- OH.
IS THAT STARTING TONIGHT?
- UH, PLEASURE
TO BE YOUR PARTNER.
LOOK, I GOT TO GIT.
BIG DOINGS TONIGHT
AT PETE LALAS.
WHY DON'T YOU COME AROUND
SOMETIME?
- WILLIE SAYS I'VE GOT TO GET
TO BED EARLY TONIGHT.
WE'RE TAKIN' PICTURES
TOMORROW MORNING.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
- GOOD NIGHT.
- LAURA?
LAURA?
- MM.
- I BROUGHT YOUR BREAKFAST.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
- ALL RIGHT, I SUPPOSE.
CONSIDERING.
- ALL MEN ARE BEASTS.
- YEAH.
- THE COUNTESS DOESN'T WANT
EMMA JOHNSON'S CLIENT LIST,
AND SHE DON'T WANT TO
KNOW THAT EMMA'S GOT HERS.
IS THAT PERFECTLY CLEAR?
- LAURA.
- SHE GONNA BEAT ME?
- OH, WOULD YOU LIKE HER TOO?
- WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES.
- ISN'T IT NOW?
- AND HOW IS THE COUNTESS
WILLIE PIAZZA?
- YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER
THAN ME.
SHE SENT US IN
FOR THE GLEET CURE.
- AH, WELL, COMING RIGHT UP.
- I HEAR TOM ANDERSON
IS HELPING EMMA JOHNSON
GET FRESH STOCK
FOR HER CIRCUS.
I HEAR SHE'S LOOKING FOR
A VIRGIN TO RIDE HER PONY.
OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT, LAURA?
- WHY DON'T YOU ASK HER?
- WELL, THAT'S NOT
THE ONLY THING
THAT COUNTESS WILLIE
IS MAD ABOUT.
WHO'S BEEN FILLING IN TRUDY
ABOUT THE BURIED BONES
AROUND HERE?
- I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
- THE VOODOO, LAURA.
- SHE WAS CURIOUS.
- YOU KNOW WHAT
CURIOSITY KILLED.
- YEAH.
THE PUSSY.
- GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, LADIES.
IT'S A SALVE.
OH, HERE WE ARE.
- I'LL HAVE SOME LAUDANUM.
- TINCTURE OF OPIUM COMING UP
RIGHT NOW.
- GODDAMN IT, LAURA.
WILLIE SAID NO.
YOU CAN'T DO DOPE
AND STAY WITH THE HOUSE.
- I GOT, UH, CONSTIPATION.
- YOU HAVE GOT A HABIT,
AND WILLIE SAID NO.
NO MORE DOPE.
- I WANT IT.
- WELL, THEN YOU COME
AND GET IT.
- IF WILLIE PIAZZA
DOESN'T GIVE ME WHAT I WANT,
PLENTY OF OTHERS WILL.
- HEY, YOU FORGOT
YOUR LEMON PHOSPHATE.
- WILL YOU DO SOMETHING
FOR ME, PLEASE, WITH THE FAN?
- WHAT?
- GET RID OF IT.
- WHAT?
- MONSIEUR BELLOCQ ALWAYS TAKES
OUR PICTURES.
IT'S, UH, TRADITION,
AND AN ART.
- MERCI.
- SOMEDAY MONSIEUR BELLOCQ
WILL BE VERY FAMOUS,
AND WE WILL ALL BE VERY DEAD.
AND BECAUSE OF THE PICTURES
OF THE VERY FAMOUS BELLOCQ,
WE DEARLY DEPARTED LADIES OF THE
FRENCH QUARTER WILL LIVE AGAIN.
- LADIES, LADIES,
REMEMBER, PLEASE,
YOU CANNOT MOVE
UNTIL I COUNT TO 20.
- STAND UP, DEAR.
NOW SIT.
THIS ARM OUT.
THERE.
- BON.
I'VE GOT ONE LITTLE ADJUSTMENT.
- DO YOU KNOW ABOUT
THIS WOMAN NAMED, UM, PAPA--
MADAME PAPELUSE,
PAPALOOS?
- SHE'S THIS VOODOO WOMAN,
YOU SEE?
AND ALL THE OTHER VOODOO WOMEN
ARE SCARED OF HER.
'CAUSE SHE CAN DO ANYTHING
TO ANYBODY.
HMM.
SHE'S EVEN GOT THIS MAN
ANSON HARRIS, YOU KNOW.
HE KILLED HIS OWN SISTER
AND BROTHER-IN-LAW.
- AARON HARRIS.
- YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
- AARON HARRIS
COMMITTED 11 VERY NASTY MURDERS.
AND WHEN HE WAS ABOUT
TO GO ON TRIAL,
MADAME PAPALOOS
GOT THE BEEF TONG,
AND SHE DID A DANCE OVER IT.
AND WHEN THE WITNESSES STOOD UP,
THEY COULD NOT SAY ONE WORD.
- IS THAT TRUE?
- LADIES, LADIES.
MAY WE CONTINUE?
BON.
NOW, REMEMBER, YOU CAN'T MOVE.
ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN--
DON'T MOVE.
- I DON'T BELIEVE IN VOODOO.
- DON'T LEAVE NO HAIRS
IN YOUR HAIRBRUSH.
- [indistinct]
YOU MOVED!
- DID YOU WANT SUGAR
IN YOUR COFFEE?
- ALL RIGHT.
- OH, MY. SORRY.
I FORGOT TO BRING IT OUT.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME CREAM?
- UM, ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
THAT'S ENOUGH.
DO YOU MIND
IF I ASK YOU A QUESTION?
- WHAT'S A NICE GIRL LIKE ME
DOIN' IN A PLACE LIKE THIS?
- NO.
- WHAT?
- OH, WELL,
I SUPPOSE YOU HAVE YOUR REASONS.
- YEAH, I DO.
MY MAMA,
SHE JUST MARRIED A MEXICAN.
AND MY DADDY, I DON'T KNOW,
HE DIED.
AND HOW I GOT HERE,
I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S ONE BIG FUZZY HAZE.
- WELL, UM,
YOU'RE IN A GOOD PLACE.
I MEAN, WILLIE TAKES GOOD CARE
OF HER GIRLS.
- YEAH.
- WELL--
- WHAT'S IN THE JOHNSON'S PLACE?
- UM, IT'S A--
IT'S A FRENCH HOUSE.
HILMA BURT RUNS IT.
YOU KNOW,
TOM ANDERSON'S GIRLFRIEND.
- WHO'S TOM ANDERSON?
- YOU DON'T KNOW TOM ANDERSON?
HE'S THE POLITICIAN, GAMBLER,
LADIES' MAN,
MAYOR OF THE
DISTRICT SOMETIMES.
AND HE JUST GOT ELECTED
TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
- ALL THAT?
WHAT'S A FRENCH HOUSE?
- YOU WANT
TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT?
- YEAH, CHARLIE!
GO, CHARLIE!
- YEAH!
- PLAY IT, JELLY ROLL!
- OH, KID, YOU SHOULD OWN
A PLACE LIKE THIS.
- WHY?
- SO WE CAN ALL DRINK FOR FREE!
- YOU TELL HIM, SUGAR!
- YOU BLACK SON OF A BITCH,
SUCKER!
- CALM YOUR ASS!
- $1 ON THE COLORED GAL!
- YOU'RE COVERED.
- ALL RIGHT, DAMN YOU!
QUIT IT!
DIDN'T I TELL YOU
NO MORE FIGHTIN'?
- BUT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT--
- I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT SHE
WAS SAYIN'!
I TOLD YOU IF YOU WERE GONNA
FIGHT, YOU FIGHT ME.
NOW, COME ON.
FIGHT ME.
- I GOT A DOLLAR
ON AARON HARRIS.
- YOU'RE COVERED.
- SHH.
- NOW, YOU FIGHT ME!
DAMN BITCH!
- IT'S COLORED FOLKS' BUSINESS.
KEEP OUT OF IT!
- NO!
- THAT'S ENOUGH!
- I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A CHRISTMAS
PRESENT A LITTLE EARLY
AND FORGET YOU SAID THAT.
- WAS THAT NECESSARY?
HMM?
- HE'S CRAZY.
- WELL, BUST MY ASS.
IF THIS LITTLE PUSSY,
WHO'S ABOUT TO GET HIMSELF
A JAZZ FUNERAL,
AIN'T THE NEW PIANO PLAYER
FROM ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY?
- OH, YOU KNOW ME?
KID ROSS?
HMM?
- SO YOU'RE KID ROSS.
- YEAH.
- HAVE A DRINK, KID.
- IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!
YOU'RE BLEEDING.
- DAMN IT, YOU SAW IT!
HE RABBIT PUNCHED ME!
- NO.
- THE PEOPLE AT ASBURY PARK
RABBIT PUNCH?
- YEAH, THE PEOPLE
IN ASBURY PARK
EAT PUNKS LIKE YOU
FOR BREAKFAST.
- PEOPLE IN STORYVILLE
CARVE THEIR MEAT FOR BREAKFAST.
- NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, NOW.
NOW, WAIT.
JUST CALM DOWN NOW!
- HE'S LEAVING!
LOOK, LOOK, LOOK,
IT JUST...
WAIT A MINUTE.
WAIT A MINUTE.
OH, NOW, JUST, JUST--
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, OKAY!
- YOU'RE DEAD.
YOU'RE BOTH DEAD.
- CAN I BUY YOU A DRINK?
- REMIND ME NOT TO MENTION
ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY,
ANYTIME SOON.
- I THINK I'M GONNA BE SICK.
- HEY, MS. TRUDY!
IF YOU KICK THE HAM, YOU GET
TO TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU.
- NO, THANKS!
I AIN'T HERE FOR KICKS.
- HEY, JELLY!
WATCH OUT FOR YOUR OWN HAM
BEFORE I COME OVER THERE AND
KICK IT UP ROUND YOUR FACE.
- YEAH, YEAH!
- WHERE IS COKE-EYED LAURA?
- YOU HAVE TASTED THE DUST
OF DARKNESS, THE HAPPY DUSK.
- * AARON HARRIS
* IS A BAD, BAD MAN
* AARON HARRIS
* IS A BAD, BAD MAN
* NOW, HE'S THE BADDEST MAN *
* EVER WAS ON THIS LAND
* HE KILLED
HIS SWEET LITTLE SISTER *
* AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW
* HE KILLED
HIS SWEET LITTLE SISTER *
* AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW
* ABOUT A CUP OF COFFEE
* HE KILLED HIS SISTER
AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW *
- HELLO, TOM.
- IT'S--IT'S VERY NICE.
- IT'S NOT FOR SALE.
- I SUSPECT
YOU MEAN THAT RUDELY.
- STATE YOUR BUSINESS.
THIS IS A BUSINESS HOUSE,
AND YOU ARE ON BUSINESS HOURS.
- WELL, TO TELL THE TRUTH,
I THOUGHT EMMA JOHNSON MADE YOU
A RIGHT HANDSOME OFFER, WILLIE,
FOR THAT VIRGIN,
GERTRUDE DIX?
- DAMN YOU, TOM.
NOT FOR ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY.
I COULDN'T SEND TRUDY
INTO THAT CESSPOOL.
- IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE!
ALL THESE COLORS.
OH, I'M SO GLAD COUNTESS
WILLIE LET ME TAKE THIS OUT.
ONLY THING IS, SHE DON'T LET ME
OUT OF HER SIGHT.
WELL, ANYWAY, SHE THOUGHT I
WAS LOOKING A LITTLE BIT PALE,
SO HERE I AM.
- LIGHT ME.
- I'D LOVE TO, WILLIE.
- DON'T BE SMART ON MY TIME.
YOU'RE NOT IN THE JOHNSON HOUSE.
- BUT I'M ON MY TERRITORY.
- YOU'RE OBNOXIOUS.
- I TAKE PRETTY MUCH
WHAT I WANT.
THAT'S STILL THE RULE.
- WHAT DO YOU WANT?
I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE,
TOM ANDERSON.
AND FOR A FACT...
I NEVER DID IT
WITH THE LIKES OF YOU.
- NOW, DON'T GO LOOKING
TO BUY TROUBLE
WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH
OF IT AROUND FOR FREE.
- I BORROWED IT
FROM TOM ANDERSON.
AIN'T IT A HONEY?
- JUST DON'T BLOW UP IN IT.
- WHY DON'T YOU SIT BACK
AND RELAX?
NOW, YOU'RE GETTING
A RIDE FOR NOTHING.
TOM ANDERSON TALK TO YOU?
- WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT TOM ANDERSON?
- I KNOW HE TALKED
TO THE COUNTESS
ABOUT GETTING YOU OVER
TO EMMA JOHNSON'S.
AND COKE-EYED LAURA TOLD ME YOU
COULD MAKE A FORTUNE OVER THERE.
YOU GONNA TAKE IT?
- IF I'M GONNA SELL MYSELF,
I MIGHT AS WELL GET THE HIGHEST
PRICE I POSSIBLY CAN.
WHAT BUSINESS IS IT
OF YOURS ANYWAY?
- PLENTY.
I'M THINKING OF GOING
OVER THERE MYSELF.
- BULLSHIT!
- REMEMBER NELLY MOSES?
- THE WHITE SLAVE?
- MM-HMM.
SHE RAN AWAY.
- CAN'T IMAGINE WHY.
- ANYWAY, SHE WAS CAUGHT,
AND SOME DO-GOODING
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF
TO SEE SHE GOT FREE.
- HURRAY
FOR THE FORCES OF SANITY.
- WELL, A LITTLE NOOKIE HERE,
A LITTLE PRESSURE THERE,
TOMORROW THE HONORABLE
JUDGE THORNTON
IS GONNA FIND NELLY GUILTY.
- OF WHAT?
- OF THEFT
OF HER OWN GODDAMN BODY.
WHICH RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO US.
I GET WHAT I WANT,
AND I WANT THAT VIRGIN,
GERTRUDE DIX,
FOR EMMA,
INTACT,
TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.
TWO WEEKS.
GOOD DAY...
WHAT'S LEFT OF IT.
- EMMA JOHNSON DON'T CARE A PISS
ABOUT MUSIC,
AND YOU KNOW IT.
BESIDES, SHE'S REALLY BAD.
I DON'T THINK YOU'D LIKE IT OVER
THERE ANYWAY, KID.
- YOU KNOW I'M OVER 21.
- WELL, I CAN TAKE CARE OF
MYSELF JUST AS WELL AS YOU CAN.
- I THINK YOU OUGHT TO TELL
EMMA JOHNSON TO GO TO HELL.
- I THINK YOU OUGHT TO GO BACK
TO ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY.
- VIRGIN FROM PITTSBURGH.
HUH.
- OKAY, I'M SORRY.
I REALLY AM SORRY.
I JUST HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE,
THAT'S ALL.
AND IT'S JUST
A LITTLE DIFFICULT.
- I CARE ABOUT YOUR DECISION.
- THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU ALSO CARE
TO STOP THAT.
- WHAT?
- YOU'VE GOT YOUR HAND
ON MY BOTTOM.
- HMM?
- YOUR HAND ON MY BOTTOM.
- OH, YEAH.
- IT'S JUST THAT THIS IS
MY FIRST RENDEZVOUS WITH YOU,
AND, WELL...
I'D JUST LIKE YOU TO HAVE
A LITTLE RESPECT FOR ME.
THAT'S ALL.
I'M NOT ONE OF THE GIRLS YET,
AND I WON'T BE
TILL AFTER THE AUCTION.
- KID, TONIGHT'S THE AUCTION.
I'M FRIGHTENED.
- TRUDY, DR. MILES
IS HERE FOR HIS PAYMENT,
AND YOU'RE IT,
IF HE BIDS HIGH ENOUGH.
- ARE WE READY?
WELCOME.
WELCOME, SENATOR.
AH, COME IN. COME IN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
COME IN. COME IN.
HELLO, HELLO.
JUST FINE.
PLEASE, SIT DOWN.
COME ON, PACK IT UP.
CHOP, CHOP, CHOP.
GENTLEMEN, GENTLEMEN!
GENTLEMEN AND LADIES.
IN KEEPING WITH OUR TRADITION
OF SERVING THE FINEST
OF EVERYTHING...
- OH!
- I PRESENT MS. GERTRUDE DIX,
VIRGIN.
GUARANTEED AND CERTIFIED.
RIGHT?
- YES'M.
- DOES SHE SPEAK FRENCH?
- MAIS, OUI.
- LOVE THAT FRENCH.
- WHOO-HOO!
- THE BIDDING, GENTLEMEN,
WILL START AT $500.
- $500?
THAT'S PRETTY HIGH.
- A LITTLE STEEP THERE, WILLIE.
- $400?
- I'LL SAY $300.
- $302.
- $350.
- WHAT NOW?
- THE SHOW'S GONNA BEGIN NOW.
- $375.
- OH!
- $500.
- $520.
- FIVE.
- SHE SURE LOOKS PRETTY.
- $525, GENTLEMEN?
PRIME VIRGIN TERRITORY.
- $550.
- TAKE IT OFF.
TAKE IT OFF.
HIDE YOUR EYES.
- $575.
All: OOH.
- LET'S SEE YOU SOME MORE.
TURN AROUND, BABY!
TURN AROUND.
- $600.
- TAKE ME TO THE BANK.
- $650, BUT I'LL FINISH TAKING
OFF THE BLOOMERS.
- $800.
- $800 IN CASH?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
- MY MONEY IS AS GOOD
AS ANYBODY'S.
- GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE...
SOLD.
- KID, ARE YOU AWAKE?
- YEAH.
- I'M SORRY.
I'M REALLY SORRY.
- WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SORRY
ABOUT EVERYTHING?
I WAS THINKING
ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM.
- TOM ANDERSON?
- YEAH.
- KID,
IT'S NOT JUST MY PROBLEM.
IT'S YOUR PROBLEM TOO.
HE'S NOT GONNA BE TOO PLEASED
AT ALL
WHEN HE FINDS OUT
ABOUT THIS.
- I GOT A FRIEND IN CHICAGO.
- OH, EVERYBODY'S GOT A FRIEND
IN CHICAGO.
SO THAT'S WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN SITTING THERE
THINKING ABOUT ALL NIGHT?
- I WAS THINKING
ABOUT HOW I LOVE YOU.
- I LOVE YOU TOO.
- WILL YOU MARRY ME?
- OF COURSE I WILL.
- FOR BETTER OR WORSE?
- HOW MUCH WORSE DOES IT GET?
- WELL, MY FRIEND IN CHICAGO
WANTS TO GO IN HALVES
ON A CABARET CLUB,
AND THAT WAS MY HALF.
I'M BROKE.
- WHAT?
WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?
- DOES IT MATTER?
- I LOVE YOU.
WE'VE HAD THE WORST.
NOW I'M READY FOR THE BETTER.
- GOOD NIGHT, SWEET PRINCE.
- WE ARE NOT TO BE.
DAMN IT, LAURA.
I HAVE NEVER MET
ANYONE LIKE YOU.
EVERY TIME I THINK
I'VE DONE IT ALL,
YOU COME UP WITH SOMETHING
I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT OF
IN A MILLION YEARS.
- MM-HMM.
- DAMN, WOMAN, YOU TURN ME
EVERY WAY BUT LOOSE.
BETWEEN YOUR SEXUAL QUIRKS
AND YOUR DOPE DREAMS,
THAT MIND OF YOURS
MUST BE SPLIT TO PIECES.
- MM-HMM.
- YOU'RE PROBABLY IN LEAGUE
WITH APHRODITE.
OR THE DEVIL HIMSELF.
- JUST CALL IT
THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC.
OR MAYBE VOODOO.
- I MEAN TO TELL YOU,
THAT WILLIE PIAZZA DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT SHE'S GOT IN YOU.
IF SHE'D ONLY GIVE
YOU YOUR HEAD.
THAT VIRGIN IS PENNY ANTE STUFF.
- VIRGIN?
WHAT VIRGIN?
TRUDY?
DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH.
SHE'S JUST RARIN' TO GO
EVER SINCE SHE MET
THAT PIANO PLAYER, KID ROSS.
- RUN THAT BY ME ONE MORE AGAIN.
WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY?
- KID ROSS JUST PICKED THE FRUIT
RIGHT OFF THE TREE
RIGHT UNDER YOUR VERY NOSE.
- AH, COME ON.
- EMMA JONES
HAS LOST HER VIRGIN.
EMMA JONES HAS LOST HER VIRGIN.
- WELL, I'LL BE DAMNED.
THAT WHOREHOUSE
PIANO-PLAYING KID.
WELL, NOW, NOBODY--
NOBODY PICKS THEIR FRUIT OFF
OF TOM ANDERSON'S ORCHARD
WITHOUT PAYING THE PRICE!
THEY CAN'T GET AWAY WITH IT.
TAKE CARE OF 'EM BOTH, LAURA.
GET ALL THE HELP YOU NEED
FROM YOUR LITTLE SEWING CIRCLE
OF FRIENDS.
AARON HARRIS,
MADAME PAPALOOS,
ANYBODY!
OR ANYTHING THAT DEVIOUS LITTLE
MIND OF YOURS CAN CONJURE UP.
- AND WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?
- WELL, YOU DO A GOOD JOB...
AND I'LL KEEP YOU IN LOTUS LAND
AS LONG AS THERE'S OPIUM
IN CHINATOWN.
JUST MAKE SURE IT'S LIGHTS OUT
FOR THE BOTH OF THEM...
PERMANENTLY.
- WHERE ARE WE?
- PITTSBURGH.
WHERE DO YOU THINK WE ARE?
WE'RE IN STORYVILLE CEMETERY.
- MS. HATTIE C. HAMILTON,
QUEEN OF WHORES.
DIED 1885.
YOU KNOW SENATOR JAMES BEERS?
HE WAS HER MAN.
- NO, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF HIM.
- SHE SHOT HIM DEAD.
JOSIE ARLINGTON.
NO VIRGIN EVER LOST HER VIRTUE
IN HER HOUSE.
- I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO
TO CHICAGO FOR A WHILE.
I GOT TO TALK MY FRIEND
INTO OPENING THE JAZZ CLUB
WITHOUT ME PUTTING UP
ANY FRONT MONEY.
- WHY SHOULD HE DO THAT?
- WELL, FOR ONE THING,
HE'D HAVE THE BEST PIANO PLAYER
IN THE MIDWEST, ME.
AND, WELL...
JAZZ MUSIC IS MOVING NORTH,
AND...
PEOPLE UP THERE PAY A LOT
OF MONEY FOR OUR KIND OF MUSIC.
AND JELLY ROLL'S STAKIN' ME.
HE'S THINKING
OF MAKING THE MOVE TOO.
- WELL, WITH YOU GONE...
- LISTEN, IT'S JUST GONNA BE
FOR A WEEK.
- GENTLEMEN AND LADIES,
IN HONOR OF HER THIRD YEAR
AT NUMBER 317,
AND IN CONSIDERATION
OF OTHER THINGS,
LIKE JUST PLAIN HAVING
A GOOD TIME--
WHOO!
THE COUNTESS WILLIE PIAZZA
IS PROUD TO PRESENT--
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE
IF YOU LIKE IT...
THE COUNTESS WILLIE PIAZZA
COSTUME BALL!
- WHOO!
- I DON'T BELIEVE IN VOODOO.
- DON'T LEAVE NO HAIRS
IN YOUR HAIRBRUSH.
- WHOO!
WELL, I SURE DECLARE,
YOU ARE A GOOD SKATE.
- [speaking Creole]
GREAT SERPENT GOD,
BRING HER TO ME
AS STRAIGHT AS A ROD.
A SLAVE OF DAMBALLA
AND MY GREAT SNAKE,
BEWARE OF THE EVIL SPELL
I MAKE.
- LAURA LAFAYETTE HAS BOUGHT
ENTRANCE TO THE RELIGION.
- COKE-EYED LAURA?
- SHE HAS BOUGHT ENTRANCE,
JUST AS SOMEDAY YOU WILL BUY
ENTRANCE BY BRINGING ME ANOTHER.
- I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!
- THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE?
- I DON'T KNOW!
I DON'T KNOW!
I DON'T KNOW!
IT'S ALL SO FUZZY!
- THE POWER HAS BROUGHT YOU
TO ME.
- AAH!
- HI, HONEY.
COULD YOU STAND A GOOD TIME?
- HOW ABOUT A CUP OF COFFEE?
- HEY, BABY!
HOW 'BOUT A CUP OF COFFEE
AND SOME SWEET, SWEET SUGAR.
- HEY, SATCHELMOUTH, MY MAN.
HEY, DO YOU KNOW ANY
MENDELSSOHN?
'CAUSE YOU'RE INVITED
TO A WEDDING.
MINE.
- AMEN.
NO WONDER YOU DON'T
WANT NO SUGAR.
WHO YOU MARRYIN'?
- OH, YOU KNOW MY GIRL?
MS. TRUDY DIX?
- MS. TRUDY?
- YEAH.
- YOU BETTER CALL OFF
YOUR PREACHER,
'CAUSE THE VOODOO QUEEN HAS
CALLED MS. TRUDY TO HER ALTAR.
- WHAT?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
- IT'S TRUE.
I SAW HER.
THE MARK OF DAMBALLA
WAS ON HER.
SHE'S FOR MADAME PAPALOOS.
- WHERE IS SHE?
CAN YOU TAKE ME TO HER?
- CAN'T.
I GOT TO GO CART COAL
ON BASIN STREET.
JUST FOLLOW THE DRUMS.
FOLLOW THE DRUMS.
THAT'S WHERE SHE IS.
- WELL, HELL.
WATCH THIS FOR ME.
YOU'RE STILL INVITED.
- I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
I WONDER IF MENDEL
WHAT'S-HIS-NAME
EVER FOUND A GRIS-GRIS SPELL
ON HIS DOORSTEP.
- WHY?
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?
WHY?
- BECAUSE OF KID ROSS.
THE SNAKE GOD...
- WHY?
WHAT DID HE EVER DO TO YOU?
- HE AIN'T DONE NOTHING TO ME.
HE HURT MY MAN.
- LET HIM GO!
- AN EYE FOR AN EYE.
- LET HIM GO!
- HE LIVES SO FAR.
- LET HIM GO!
- IT'S YOU WHO IS CAUGHT.
HIS WOMAN FOR MY MAN.
- SHE'S YOURS, HOUNGAN PRIEST.
AARON HARRIS!
- AHH!
NO!
- DON'T DIRTY THE RUG.
YOU NEED NOT MAKE
ANY STATEMENT.
THAT IS, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO REMAIN SILENT.
- EVERYTHING WAS GOING
PERFECTLY.
HOW DID YOU FIND ME?
- ANYTHING YOU SAY MAY BE USED
AGAINST YOU IN TRIAL.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSULT
WITH AND OBTAIN THE ADVICE
OF AN ATTORNEY OR...
- WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
- YOU JUST RELAX.
JUST RELAX.
YOU'RE A LUCKY LADY.
A LOT LUCKIER THAN THE OTHERS.
- SHE WAS WORTH 5 GRAND, EASY.
- MY HEAD IS POUNDING SO MUCH.
- JUST LIE BACK AND RELAX.
YOU'VE HAD A VERY NEAR MISS.
YOU WERE ALMOST THE VICTIM
OF A RING
THAT SELLS HOMELESS GIRLS TO
THE RICH OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
- HOW DID YOU FIND ME?
THROUGH IDA OR BURT?
- NO.
THEY WERE PART OF THE RING.
UNDERCOVER DETECTIVE SORDIK
HAS HAD YOU UNDER SURVEILLANCE
EVER SINCE YOU GOT TO TOWN.
HE WONDERED WHY YOU NEVER LEFT
THE BODINE APARTMENT FOR DAYS.
YOU SHOULD PROBABLY BE
ON A BOAT NOW.
- WOULD YOU PLEASE THANK HIM
FOR ME?
- WHY DON'T YOU THANK HIM
YOURSELF?
DETECTIVE SORDIK?
THIS YOUNG LADY WOULD LIKE
TO THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR JOB.
- YEAH, I KNEW HER,
AND I SURE AS HELL WAS GOING
TO GET TO KNOW HER
A HELL OF A LOT BETTER.
AS FOR THE REST OF YOU,
WELL, MOST OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN
IS TRUE.
SOME OF IT IS WILD CONJECTURE,
BUT ALL OF IT IS SUCH
A COMPLICATED COMBINATION
OF THE TWO, THAT NO TWO STORIES
CONCERNING THE FRENCH QUARTER
ARE EVER NEARLY THE SAME.
THIS MUCH IS KNOWN.
COUNTESS WILLIE PIAZZA BECAME A
BONA FIDE MEMBER OF THE NOBILITY
THROUGH THE HUSBAND SHE ACQUIRED
ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA.
SATCHELMOUTH GREW UP
TO BECOME ONE
OF THE JAZZ TRUMPET GREATS
OF ALL TIME.
JELLY ROLL MORTON
DIDN'T DO BAD EITHER.
DR. MILES PEDDLED HIS DUBIOUS
SOCIAL DISEASE CURE
AND LATER INVENTED
A HEADACHE REMEDY
THAT BECAME FAMOUS FOR ITS FIZZ.
TOM ANDERSON,
AT THE AGE OF 71,
GOT RELIGION, AND JOINED
GERTRUDE DIX IN HOLY WEDLOCK.
ICE BOX JOSIE GOT DEFROSTED,
YEAH, FINALLY.
HE WAS A BIG FISHING TYCOON
FROM CANADA.
HE HAD A SON, A DAUGHTER,
AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN
HE NEVER SAW,
THE OLDEST OF WHICH
IS THE TELLER OF THIS UNLIKELY
AND MOST OUTRAGEOUS TALE.
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
NOW, Y'ALL DRIVE HOME CAREFULLY,
YOU HEAR?
YOUR FATHER'S ESTATE
AND ACCOUNTS.
AND NEAR AS I CAN FIGURE,
WHAT WITH SELLING THE BOAT
TO COVER HIS DEBTS,
AND THE TAXES ON THE COTTAGE,
YOU'RE JUST ABOUT $3,000
IN THE HOLE.
OF COURSE,
THERE'S THE ACCOUNTING
AND MY LEGAL FEE ON TOP OF THAT.
- SHE WAS ONE OF
THOSE GIRLS WHO COME ALONG
ABOUT AS OFTEN
AS SNOW IN THE BAYOU.
AND SHE WAS ON THE RUN.
I COULD TELL THAT.
HELL, GIRLS LIKE THAT ARE ALWAYS
ON THE RUN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
SOME OF 'EM ARE RUNNING
FROM SOMETHING.
SOME ARE RUNNING FOR SOMETHING.
SOME ARE RUNNING TO SOMETHING.
SOME OF THEM ARE JUST RUNNING.
AND AROUND HERE,
THEY ALL RUN TO NEW ORLEANS.
THEY CALL IT
"THE CITY THAT CARE FORGOT."
[wolf whistle]
THE FACES NEVER CHANGE.
THE STORIES NEVER CHANGE.
AND THE FRENCH QUARTER,
HELL, THE FRENCH QUARTER STAYS
THE SAME.
KNEW HER?
YEAH, I KNEW HER EVEN
BEFORE I SAW HER.
SHE LOOKED AROUND FOR A WHILE,
DID A LOT OF WALKING,
DID A LOT OF SITTING.
THEY ALWAYS DO THAT,
WALK LIKE THAT,
SIT LIKE THAT.
LIKE BIRDS WHEN THEIR CRUMBS
ARE THINNIN' OUT.
SHE WAS LOOKING FOR HER DREAMS
IN THE TIMES-PICAYUNE.
MAN, THERE'S ONE THING I KNOW
ABOUT NEW ORLEANS:
ANYBODY THAT WANTS SOMETHING
REAL BAD
IS GONNA GET IT REAL BAD.
CHRISTINE DELAPLANE
WAS THAT RARE GUMBO,
A MIXTURE OF HALF CHILD,
HALF GIRL,
AND ALL WOMAN.
NOTHING REALLY STOPPED HER.
SHE TRIED EVERYTHING.
SHE WAS SO SIMPLE,
SO VULNERABLE.
IT MADE HER A SNAP DETAIL.
THAT'S ME,
IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED,
IN THE STRIPED SWEATER.
SHE HAD THAT LOOK
THAT MADE MEN ACHE,
MADE THEM WANT TO DO SOMETHING
THEY KNEW THEY SHOULDN'T.
BUT I JUST HELD BACK,
LET MY EYES DO THE WALKING
THROUGH THAT YELLOW HAIR.
I KNEW IT WAS COMING.
A GIRL LIKE THAT,
IT HAD TO.
SHE TRIED.
ANKLED HERSELF INTO EVERY
RAT HOLE OF THE VIEUX CARREZ--
THAT'S WHAT THE LOCALS CALL
THE FRENCH QUARTER--
LOOKING FOR THAT JOB,
AND I JUST HUNG ON WATCHIN'
LIKE A GATOR EYEBALLING
A SWAMP BIRD,
WAITIN' FOR THAT STRIKE.
SHE HAD GUTS,
BUT IT WAS A LOSIN' GAME.
- CAN I GET SOME LUNCH, PLEASE?
- IF YOU CAN DRINK IT.
- UH, I'D LIKE
A OYSTER SANDWICH.
- KITCHEN'S CLOSED.
YOU WANT A BEER?
HEY, LISTEN.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
- YEAH.
I JUST HAVEN'T HAD MUCH SLEEP,
THAT'S ALL.
- WELL, HOLD YOUR HAUNCH.
I'LL SEE IF I CAN BANG YOU UP
A CHEESE SANDWICH.
IS THAT OKAY?
- THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC.
YOU KNOW,
YOUR SIGN OUT FRONT SAYS
THAT YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR SOME HELP.
- I AIN'T.
HE IS.
- THOMASON, BURT THOMASON.
IDA SAYS YOU'RE AN OLD FRIEND.
COURSE I DON'T BELIEVE MUCH
WHAT IDA SAYS.
- I'M LOOKING FOR WORK.
- YEAH, THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
- UH, 21.
MY NAME'S CHRIS DELAPLANE.
- PLEASED TO MEET YOU.
- WHAT IS IT EXACTLY YOU DO?
- WHAT IS IT EXACTLY
YOU WANT DONE?
- YOU EVER DONE ANY COOKIN'?
- COURSE I HAVE.
- CLEANIN'?
WAITIN' TABLES.
- [laughs]
SURE I HAVE.
- NOW, WHAT IS IT
YOU'RE RUNNING AWAY FROM?
- I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
- YOU SEE THE LITTLE RED LINES?
NOW, THAT'S FROM HOME CLEANIN'.
AND THE SORES ON IDA'S,
THAT'S FROM BAR CLEANING.
- YOU WATCH YOUR MOUTH,
OR I'LL SHOVE THESE FINGERS
WHERE THE MOON DON'T SHINE.
HE'D LOVE IT TOO.
- I NEED A JOB.
- YEAH.
AND I NEED A TOPLESS DANCER.
- OH, WHY DON'T
YOU KNOCK IT OFF?
- I SUPPOSE YOU'VE DONE SOME
OF THAT TOO.
- I CAN DANCE.
- YOU SURE NEED A JOB BAD ENOUGH
TO MAKE ME GUESS
YOU AIN'T GOT SLEEPIN' MONEY
FOR THE NIGHT.
MAYBE NOT ENOUGH
TO PAY FOR THAT SANDWICH.
- YOU'RE NOT GONNA GIVE ME
THAT JOB.
- WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK I MIGHT LOOK
AROUND A WHILE.
I JUST PUT THAT SIGN OUT.
I GOT TO ADMIT,
YOU GOT THE ROUGH QUALIFICATIONS
FOR THE JOB.
- CAN I HAVE THAT JOB?
- WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
YOU COME BACK TONIGHT,
AND BRING SOMETHING
TO AUDITION IN.
LOAN.
- THANK YOU.
- HEY, YOU'RE ON NEXT.
- HOW DO I LOOK?
- AS SOON AS YOU'RE THROUGH,
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
I'LL MEET YOU IN HERE.
- AREN'T YOU GONNA WATCH?
- I CAN HEAR HOW GOOD
YOU'RE DOIN'.
- CRAZY BUNCH OUT THERE.
- NOW, YOU FOLLOW HER,
THE ONE ON YOUR LEFT.
- YOU AUDITIONING?
- YEAH.
- LET'S GO!
- COMING, MOTHER.
- 22 MOTHERFUCKING BUCKS.
IT WAS A GOOD NIGHT.
OOH, SHIT.
DOUBLE SHIT.
YOU TELL BURT YOU'RE OVER 21?
HE WON'T TAKE ANYBODY
WHO AIN'T OVER 21.
- YEAH, I TOLD HIM
I WAS OVER 21.
- I CAUGHT HER ACT FIRST TIME
OUT OF THE STARTIN' GATE
AT BURT THOMASON'S
STORYVILLE BAR.
SHE WAS...DANCING?
- WELL,
I, UH, HOPE Y'ALL LIKED IT.
- ALL RIGHT!
HEY!
DYNAMITE!
DYNAMITE!
RIGHT ON!
- 20 MINUTES ON,
ONE HOUR OFF.
THAT'S WHEN YOU WAIT ON TABLES.
SIX NIGHTS A WEEK,
12:00 NOON TO 4:00 A.M.
- I THINK I SHOULD GO HOME.
- YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.
TRUST ME.
YOU GOT A JOB, A GOOD JOB.
AND I GOT A FEELING
YOU'RE GONNA BE REAL GOOD AT IT.
YOU'RE GONNA BE REAL,
REAL GOOD AT IT.
- AT DANCIN'.
I'M GONNA BE REAL GOOD
AT DANCIN'.
AND AT DANCIN' ALONE!
- WELL, YOU'LL COME AROUND.
BEATS HUSTLIN'.
- IT WAS ONE OF
THOSE RAGIN' CAJUN MORNINGS,
WHEN YOU COULD JUST FEEL THE
STORM WAITING BEHIND THE SUN.
AND THERE SHE WAS STOMPIN' DOWN
DECATUR STREET,
BIG AS LIFE AND MADDER THAN
A MOMMA POSSUM WITH SORE TITS.
- WHAT IS THIS CHECK FOR $25?
I WANT MY MONEY.
YOU OWE ME A WEEK'S PAY!
- THAT'S IT.
THAT IS YOUR MONEY,
PLUS YOUR MEALS,
THE ROOM UPSTAIRS,
AND 25% INTEREST
FOR THE LOAN OF THE COSTUME.
AND YOU WANT TO WATCH
HOW YOU TALK.
- IF THAT'S THE WAY IT IS,
THEN I QUIT.
JUST GIVE ME MY BUS FARE HOME.
JUST GIVE ME MY BUS FARE
BACK HOME!
- YOU GOT A CHECK FOR $25.
- MR. THOMASON,
THIS IS SATURDAY.
THE BANKS ARE NOT OPEN
ON SATURDAYS.
- SO HANG AROUND.
BESIDES,
WE DON'T CASH CHECKS HERE.
- MR. THOMASON.
MR. THOMASON!
- NO!
- ON DELPHINE STREET,
NUMBER 38.
NUMBER 38, THERE'S THIS WOMAN
WHO OWES ME.
FLORINDA BEAUDINE.
BEAUDINE.
SHE LIVES ABOVE AN
ANTIQUE/APOTHECARY SHOP.
SHE'S SITS RENT-FREE
BECAUSE SHE TIDIES UP THE PLACE
FROM TIME TO TIME.
I'LL CALL HER.
SHE'S HELPED A LOT
OF GIRLS LIKE YOU.
MAYBE SHE CAN CASH YOUR CHECK.
NO SWEAT.
SO STOP FRETTIN', YOU HEAR?
SHE'S ALSO INTO VOODOO.
AT LEAST SHE WAS.
SHE'S HARMLESS, THOUGH.
- HELLO?
ANYBODY HOME?
HELLO?
ANYBODY HERE?
- SHE'S JUST GOING INTO
THE ANTIQUE/APOTHECARY.
- FLORINDA BEAUDINE?
- COME IN.
COME IN. SIT DOWN.
IT'S BEEN A LONG CLIMB UP
THOSE STAIRS.
COME ON. SIT DOWN.
I'LL FIX YOU SOME TEA.
IT'S MY SPECIAL BLEND,
AND I MADE IT MYSELF,
AND IT'S DELICIOUS.
- IDA SAYS THAT YOU--
- NOW, YOU JUST SLIP OFF
YOUR SHOES, SIP THIS TEA.
RELAX.
MADAME BEAUDINE IS GOING
TO SOLVE ALL YOUR PROBLEMS.
- IDA SAYS MAYBE THAT YOU CAN
CASH MY CHECK FOR $25.
- NO PROBLEM.
I'LL GET YOU BACK HOME.
NOW, TELL ME SOMETHING
ABOUT YOURSELF, HMM?
ANY BOYFRIENDS?
FAMILY?
- NO.
- RELATIVES, HUH?
- NO.
- WOULD YOU TRY
SOME OF THIS BREAD?
- THANK YOU.
MY MAMA, SHE DIED WHEN
I WAS JUST A KID, YOU KNOW?
MY FATHER DIED A COUPLE
OF WEEKS--COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
- AND?
- WHAT?
- EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE
ALL RIGHT.
YOU'LL SEE.
HOW ABOUT SOME JAM ON IT, HUH?
SOME NICE, FRESH STRAWBERRY JAM.
- EXCUSE ME.
I'M NOT--I'M NOT
FEELING VERY WELL.
UM...UH...
MY--MY HEAD.
MY HEAD IS...
THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF FLU
GOING AROUND OR SOMETHING.
I HOPE I'M NOT GETTING IT.
I'M VERY DIZZY.
- WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO STRETCH
OUT ON THE BED OVER THERE, HUH?
REST A WHILE.
- NO, NO, NO.
I'LL BE OKAY.
I...
UM, MAYBE I BETTER.
- COME ON.
I'LL HELP YOU.
THERE WE GO.
- I KNEW WHAT WAS COOKIN',
ONLY THE CAKE WASN'T READY
TO COME OUT OF THE OVEN.
SO I WAITED.
THAT'S HOW I MAKE MY MONEY,
WAITING.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I GET
A FEELING IN MY BONES
I'VE BEEN WAITING 100 YEARS.
BUT THEN, TIME HAS LITTLE
MEANING IN THE FRENCH QUARTER.
- IT'S ABOUT TIME.
HELLO?
IT'S ME.
YEAH, THE PACKAGE
IS READY FOR DELIVERY.
JUST GIVE ME A FEW DAYS
TO HOOK IT UP.
THE BUYER
SHOULD BE VERY PLEASED.
IT'S A BEAUTY, AND I DON'T THINK
IT'S EVER BEEN USED BEFORE.
- YOU'VE BEEN DREAMIN'
THE FUTURE, MS. TRUDY.
YOU'VE BEEN DREAMIN' THE FUTURE.
- HOW YOU FEELING?
- FINE.
I FEEL FINE.
REALLY, I--FINE.
- YOU'VE BEEN DREAMING.
YOU FAINTED,
AND WE BROUGHT YOU IN HERE.
- HOW--HOW LONG HAVE
I BEEN HERE?
- GIANT HORSELESS CARRIAGES,
FLYING MACHINES THAT CROSS
THE OCEAN,
BOXES WITH MOVING PICTURES,
MEN WHO WALK ON THE MOON.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU
WERE MUMBLING ABOUT.
- HEY, WELCOME BACK TO THE WORLD
OF THE LIVING.
- THANK YOU.
BUT IT WAS SO REAL.
THERE WAS THIS
VOODOO WOMAN THERE.
- WELL, AT LEAST THE FUTURE
HASN'T ABANDONED RELIGION.
- NO, BUT THIS VOODOO WOMAN...
WELL, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
SHE GAVE ME THIS HERB TEA.
SHE GAVE ME HERB TEA.
AND THEN...
- AND THEN WHAT?
- I CAN'T REMEMBER.
- GET DRESSED.
YOU'LL FEEL BETTER.
I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET THE GIRLS.
IN THE MEANTIME,
I WANT YOU TO SEE A DOCTOR.
- WHAT?
- NOW, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE THESE
THINGS STEP BY STEP.
THERE.
YOU CAN COME IN NOW,
DR. MILES.
- WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAME.
- I'M THE MADAME.
THIS IS GERTRUDE DIX.
DR. MILES HAS INVENTED A SALVE
THAT CURES GLEET.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT, DR. MILES?
- KNOCKS THE GLEET
RIGHT OFF ITS FEET.
SEE?
- "DR. MILES SPECIFIC FORMULA,
GUARANTEED TO CURE GONORRHEA
AND GLEET."
- SEND US A DOZEN CASES.
IF THE FIRST CASE OF FREE
SAMPLES IS ANY DAMN GOOD.
WELL, I'LL LEAVE YOU TWO ALONE
TO GET ACQUAINTED.
- OH, UH, MY FEE?
- YOUR CHOICE,
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT 3:00.
IN THE MEANTIME,
HANDS OFF THE HELP.
SHE'S THE VIRGIN.
- HEY, GIVE ME SOME GRITS.
- TELL ME, WHAT DID THE GOOD
DOCTOR SAY, ANYWAY, SILLY?
- SAID HE'D LIKE
TO SEE ME IN THE RAW.
- LADIES.
LADIES!
YOUR ATTENTION.
I HAVE A SURPRISE.
- WELL!
- HOT DAMN!
NEW HELP.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, WILLIE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY SORE ASS.
- THAT'S COKE-EYED LAURA.
WE CALL HER THAT BECAUSE SHE
SNORTED AWAY HER BRAINS.
THIS IS GERTRUDE DIX.
BUT WE'LL CALL HER TRUDY.
- OH, MY STARS AND GARTERS.
HOW NEW IS SHE?
- BRAND SPANKING NEW.
- WELL, NOW, IF THAT'S YOUR IDEA
OF FUN--
- SHE'S A VIRGIN.
THIS IS BIG-BUTT ANNIE.
YOU SAW HER UPSTAIRS.
- ANNIE WILL DO.
- THAT'S ICE BOX JOSIE.
WE HAVE A STANDING OFFER
AROUND HERE.
ANY MAN WHO CAN GET A HEAVY
BREATH OUT OF JOSIE
CAN HAVE HER ON THE HOUSE.
NO MAN'S COME CLOSE
TO THAWING HER OUT YET.
- YOU MUST BE...
PROUD.
- EVERYBODY'S GOT
THEIR BOILING POINT.
- THIS IS BRICKTOP.
A PRINCESS MOST OF THE TIME,
BUT STAY OUT OF HER WAY
WHEN SHE'S DRUNK.
- YOU GET A HOLD
OF VIRGIN AUCTION?
- WELL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME
PICTURES FIRST.
MONSIEUR BELLOCQ WILL BE HERE
TOMORROW MORNING.
ARE YOU UP TO IT?
- YEAH, SURE.
- WHY DON'T YOU LET ICE BOX
JOSIE DO THE SESSION
WITH TRUDY, HUH?
- AND WHY DON'T YOU ANSWER
THE BACK DOOR.
- AT EMMA JOHNSON'S HOUSE,
THEY'D WHIP THE ASS RIGHT OFF
THAT GIRL.
- GOOD MORNING, ALL YOU BIG,
FINE LADIES.
- HI.
- HMM.
IF YOU AIN'T JUST A-DOUBLE
UNHUNG BENDING IN THIS MORNING.
- AND GOOD MORNING TO YOU,
MR. JELLY ROLL.
WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE
SO EARLY IN THE MORNING?
- I'M ALWAYS UP EARLY.
HELL, EARLY TO BED, EARLY
TO RISE, MAKES A MAN HEALTHY
AND WEALTHY
AND DOUBLES HIS DINGLE.
I'VE BEEN UP SINCE NOON.
- GOOD.
WE'RE AUDITIONING
ANOTHER PIANO PLAYER TODAY.
- THE JOHNS CALLED IT
"STORYVILLE".
THE PIMPS CALLED IT
"THE DISTRICT."
A 24-HOUR SEWER
OF GREED AND GRAB,
AND NOTHING
WAS GRABBED AT HARDER
THAN A NEW VIRGIN
OR A NEW PIANO PLAYER.
- THAT AIN'T BAD.
- AIN'T MEANT TO BE.
- WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
- SATCHELMOUTH.
- SATCHELMOUTH?
- YES.
- HI, I'M KID ROSS.
SAY, DO YOU KNOW A LADY
NAMED COUNTESS WILLIE PIAZZA?
- THEY'RE ALL IN THE BLUE BOOK,
MY MAN.
- WHERE'S MY BAG?
WHERE'S MY BAG?
DAMN IT!
WHOEVER STOLE MY BAG,
THERE'S ONLY SHEET MUSIC IN IT.
SO I HOPE YOU CAN PLAY
THE GODDAMN PIANO!
- ALL SHE GOT IS A BED.
THAT'S HER KIND OF MUSIC.
- SHIT!
- SURROUNDED BY THIS SWIRLING
SUMP OF SIN AND SLIME
WAS COUNTESS WILLIE PIAZZA,
WHERE THE SHEETS
WERE CHANGED EVERY DAY
AND THE PIANO WAS RELIGIOUSLY
TUNED ONCE A WEEK.
A POSH PALACE OF DIGNITY
IN THE DUNG HEAP.
- PIANO MAN MORTON,
MEET KID ROSS.
- NO SHIT.
- YOU'LL BOTH BE WORKING
TONIGHT.
IF THE KID'S AS GOOD AS I HEAR,
YOU'LL BE SHARING A PIANO.
- WHAT FOR?
- FOR A WHILE.
- WILLIE HAS THE BEST MUSIC
OF ANY HOUSE OF THE DISTRICT.
- THANK YOU, MA'AM.
- BEST FOOD TOO.
- THE GIRLS
AREN'T TOO BAD EITHER.
- YOU LEAVE 'EM ALONE
IN THE HOUSE.
- HOUSE RULES.
- HI.
- HI.
- YOU'RE FROM, UM...
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, HUH?
- ASBURY PARK.
- ASBURY PARK,
NEW JERSEY.
I NEVER HEARD OF IT.
- WELL, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
- UM, PITTSBURGH.
- PITTSBURGH.
- MM-HMM.
PITTSBURGH.
I COME FROM
AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.
- WHAT?
- AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.
YOU SEE, MY MAMA TOOK ME
TO THIS EMPLOYMENT AGENCY,
AND, WELL, THEY SAID
THAT THEY WERE HIRING A LOT
OF LADIES DOWN SOUTH, SO...
ALTHOUGH I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE,
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS
IS WHAT MY MAMA HAD IN MIND
IN THE WAY OF EMPLOYMENT.
- BY THE WAY,
ARE YOU ANY RELATION
TO A PIANO PLAYER
NAMED JELLY ROLL MORTON?
- I AM JELLY ROLL MORTON.
THEY KNOW ME IN ASSHOLE PARK,
NEW JERSEY?
- THEY DO INDEED.
- I WROTE THAT.
- NO SHIT.
- OH-OOH!
- OH!
- OOH!
- WHOO!
- WHOO-HOO!
WHOO!
YEE-HAW!
WHOA!
- OH!
- OKAY!
- YEAH!
- THERE YOU GO!
WHOO!
LOOK AT THAT!
- OKAY!
- YEAH!
- WHOO-HOO!
- KEEP IT COMING!
- GENTLEMEN, LADIES.
COME JOIN ME
FOR A DANCE BY LADY LIL!
- THE RULES OF THE HOUSE,
BLACK MEN DON'T WATCH
WHITE WOMEN DANCE.
IT'S A RULE, THAT'S ALL.
HERE'S ANOTHER RULE.
ALWAYS CARRY YOURSELF A BLADE.
YOU WANT ONE?
- NO, THANKS.
HEY, WHO'S LADY LIL?
- SHE'S A FANCY UPTOWN LADY.
SHE COMES IN A FEW DAYS HERE
AND THERE.
TAKES ON THE ROUGHEST CUSTOMERS
TOO, AND LEAVES SMILING.
- WILLIE SAID FOR ME TO TELL YOU
THAT YOU WERE FINE.
- YOU MEAN I GOT THE JOB?
- UH-HUH.
- A DOLLAR A NIGHT,
PLUS YOUR TIPS.
- OH.
IS THAT STARTING TONIGHT?
- UH, PLEASURE
TO BE YOUR PARTNER.
LOOK, I GOT TO GIT.
BIG DOINGS TONIGHT
AT PETE LALAS.
WHY DON'T YOU COME AROUND
SOMETIME?
- WILLIE SAYS I'VE GOT TO GET
TO BED EARLY TONIGHT.
WE'RE TAKIN' PICTURES
TOMORROW MORNING.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
- GOOD NIGHT.
- LAURA?
LAURA?
- MM.
- I BROUGHT YOUR BREAKFAST.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
- ALL RIGHT, I SUPPOSE.
CONSIDERING.
- ALL MEN ARE BEASTS.
- YEAH.
- THE COUNTESS DOESN'T WANT
EMMA JOHNSON'S CLIENT LIST,
AND SHE DON'T WANT TO
KNOW THAT EMMA'S GOT HERS.
IS THAT PERFECTLY CLEAR?
- LAURA.
- SHE GONNA BEAT ME?
- OH, WOULD YOU LIKE HER TOO?
- WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES.
- ISN'T IT NOW?
- AND HOW IS THE COUNTESS
WILLIE PIAZZA?
- YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER
THAN ME.
SHE SENT US IN
FOR THE GLEET CURE.
- AH, WELL, COMING RIGHT UP.
- I HEAR TOM ANDERSON
IS HELPING EMMA JOHNSON
GET FRESH STOCK
FOR HER CIRCUS.
I HEAR SHE'S LOOKING FOR
A VIRGIN TO RIDE HER PONY.
OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT, LAURA?
- WHY DON'T YOU ASK HER?
- WELL, THAT'S NOT
THE ONLY THING
THAT COUNTESS WILLIE
IS MAD ABOUT.
WHO'S BEEN FILLING IN TRUDY
ABOUT THE BURIED BONES
AROUND HERE?
- I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
- THE VOODOO, LAURA.
- SHE WAS CURIOUS.
- YOU KNOW WHAT
CURIOSITY KILLED.
- YEAH.
THE PUSSY.
- GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, LADIES.
IT'S A SALVE.
OH, HERE WE ARE.
- I'LL HAVE SOME LAUDANUM.
- TINCTURE OF OPIUM COMING UP
RIGHT NOW.
- GODDAMN IT, LAURA.
WILLIE SAID NO.
YOU CAN'T DO DOPE
AND STAY WITH THE HOUSE.
- I GOT, UH, CONSTIPATION.
- YOU HAVE GOT A HABIT,
AND WILLIE SAID NO.
NO MORE DOPE.
- I WANT IT.
- WELL, THEN YOU COME
AND GET IT.
- IF WILLIE PIAZZA
DOESN'T GIVE ME WHAT I WANT,
PLENTY OF OTHERS WILL.
- HEY, YOU FORGOT
YOUR LEMON PHOSPHATE.
- WILL YOU DO SOMETHING
FOR ME, PLEASE, WITH THE FAN?
- WHAT?
- GET RID OF IT.
- WHAT?
- MONSIEUR BELLOCQ ALWAYS TAKES
OUR PICTURES.
IT'S, UH, TRADITION,
AND AN ART.
- MERCI.
- SOMEDAY MONSIEUR BELLOCQ
WILL BE VERY FAMOUS,
AND WE WILL ALL BE VERY DEAD.
AND BECAUSE OF THE PICTURES
OF THE VERY FAMOUS BELLOCQ,
WE DEARLY DEPARTED LADIES OF THE
FRENCH QUARTER WILL LIVE AGAIN.
- LADIES, LADIES,
REMEMBER, PLEASE,
YOU CANNOT MOVE
UNTIL I COUNT TO 20.
- STAND UP, DEAR.
NOW SIT.
THIS ARM OUT.
THERE.
- BON.
I'VE GOT ONE LITTLE ADJUSTMENT.
- DO YOU KNOW ABOUT
THIS WOMAN NAMED, UM, PAPA--
MADAME PAPELUSE,
PAPALOOS?
- SHE'S THIS VOODOO WOMAN,
YOU SEE?
AND ALL THE OTHER VOODOO WOMEN
ARE SCARED OF HER.
'CAUSE SHE CAN DO ANYTHING
TO ANYBODY.
HMM.
SHE'S EVEN GOT THIS MAN
ANSON HARRIS, YOU KNOW.
HE KILLED HIS OWN SISTER
AND BROTHER-IN-LAW.
- AARON HARRIS.
- YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
- AARON HARRIS
COMMITTED 11 VERY NASTY MURDERS.
AND WHEN HE WAS ABOUT
TO GO ON TRIAL,
MADAME PAPALOOS
GOT THE BEEF TONG,
AND SHE DID A DANCE OVER IT.
AND WHEN THE WITNESSES STOOD UP,
THEY COULD NOT SAY ONE WORD.
- IS THAT TRUE?
- LADIES, LADIES.
MAY WE CONTINUE?
BON.
NOW, REMEMBER, YOU CAN'T MOVE.
ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN--
DON'T MOVE.
- I DON'T BELIEVE IN VOODOO.
- DON'T LEAVE NO HAIRS
IN YOUR HAIRBRUSH.
- [indistinct]
YOU MOVED!
- DID YOU WANT SUGAR
IN YOUR COFFEE?
- ALL RIGHT.
- OH, MY. SORRY.
I FORGOT TO BRING IT OUT.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME CREAM?
- UM, ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
THAT'S ENOUGH.
DO YOU MIND
IF I ASK YOU A QUESTION?
- WHAT'S A NICE GIRL LIKE ME
DOIN' IN A PLACE LIKE THIS?
- NO.
- WHAT?
- OH, WELL,
I SUPPOSE YOU HAVE YOUR REASONS.
- YEAH, I DO.
MY MAMA,
SHE JUST MARRIED A MEXICAN.
AND MY DADDY, I DON'T KNOW,
HE DIED.
AND HOW I GOT HERE,
I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S ONE BIG FUZZY HAZE.
- WELL, UM,
YOU'RE IN A GOOD PLACE.
I MEAN, WILLIE TAKES GOOD CARE
OF HER GIRLS.
- YEAH.
- WELL--
- WHAT'S IN THE JOHNSON'S PLACE?
- UM, IT'S A--
IT'S A FRENCH HOUSE.
HILMA BURT RUNS IT.
YOU KNOW,
TOM ANDERSON'S GIRLFRIEND.
- WHO'S TOM ANDERSON?
- YOU DON'T KNOW TOM ANDERSON?
HE'S THE POLITICIAN, GAMBLER,
LADIES' MAN,
MAYOR OF THE
DISTRICT SOMETIMES.
AND HE JUST GOT ELECTED
TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
- ALL THAT?
WHAT'S A FRENCH HOUSE?
- YOU WANT
TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT?
- YEAH, CHARLIE!
GO, CHARLIE!
- YEAH!
- PLAY IT, JELLY ROLL!
- OH, KID, YOU SHOULD OWN
A PLACE LIKE THIS.
- WHY?
- SO WE CAN ALL DRINK FOR FREE!
- YOU TELL HIM, SUGAR!
- YOU BLACK SON OF A BITCH,
SUCKER!
- CALM YOUR ASS!
- $1 ON THE COLORED GAL!
- YOU'RE COVERED.
- ALL RIGHT, DAMN YOU!
QUIT IT!
DIDN'T I TELL YOU
NO MORE FIGHTIN'?
- BUT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT--
- I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT SHE
WAS SAYIN'!
I TOLD YOU IF YOU WERE GONNA
FIGHT, YOU FIGHT ME.
NOW, COME ON.
FIGHT ME.
- I GOT A DOLLAR
ON AARON HARRIS.
- YOU'RE COVERED.
- SHH.
- NOW, YOU FIGHT ME!
DAMN BITCH!
- IT'S COLORED FOLKS' BUSINESS.
KEEP OUT OF IT!
- NO!
- THAT'S ENOUGH!
- I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A CHRISTMAS
PRESENT A LITTLE EARLY
AND FORGET YOU SAID THAT.
- WAS THAT NECESSARY?
HMM?
- HE'S CRAZY.
- WELL, BUST MY ASS.
IF THIS LITTLE PUSSY,
WHO'S ABOUT TO GET HIMSELF
A JAZZ FUNERAL,
AIN'T THE NEW PIANO PLAYER
FROM ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY?
- OH, YOU KNOW ME?
KID ROSS?
HMM?
- SO YOU'RE KID ROSS.
- YEAH.
- HAVE A DRINK, KID.
- IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!
YOU'RE BLEEDING.
- DAMN IT, YOU SAW IT!
HE RABBIT PUNCHED ME!
- NO.
- THE PEOPLE AT ASBURY PARK
RABBIT PUNCH?
- YEAH, THE PEOPLE
IN ASBURY PARK
EAT PUNKS LIKE YOU
FOR BREAKFAST.
- PEOPLE IN STORYVILLE
CARVE THEIR MEAT FOR BREAKFAST.
- NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, NOW.
NOW, WAIT.
JUST CALM DOWN NOW!
- HE'S LEAVING!
LOOK, LOOK, LOOK,
IT JUST...
WAIT A MINUTE.
WAIT A MINUTE.
OH, NOW, JUST, JUST--
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, OKAY!
- YOU'RE DEAD.
YOU'RE BOTH DEAD.
- CAN I BUY YOU A DRINK?
- REMIND ME NOT TO MENTION
ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY,
ANYTIME SOON.
- I THINK I'M GONNA BE SICK.
- HEY, MS. TRUDY!
IF YOU KICK THE HAM, YOU GET
TO TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU.
- NO, THANKS!
I AIN'T HERE FOR KICKS.
- HEY, JELLY!
WATCH OUT FOR YOUR OWN HAM
BEFORE I COME OVER THERE AND
KICK IT UP ROUND YOUR FACE.
- YEAH, YEAH!
- WHERE IS COKE-EYED LAURA?
- YOU HAVE TASTED THE DUST
OF DARKNESS, THE HAPPY DUSK.
- * AARON HARRIS
* IS A BAD, BAD MAN
* AARON HARRIS
* IS A BAD, BAD MAN
* NOW, HE'S THE BADDEST MAN *
* EVER WAS ON THIS LAND
* HE KILLED
HIS SWEET LITTLE SISTER *
* AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW
* HE KILLED
HIS SWEET LITTLE SISTER *
* AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW
* ABOUT A CUP OF COFFEE
* HE KILLED HIS SISTER
AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW *
- HELLO, TOM.
- IT'S--IT'S VERY NICE.
- IT'S NOT FOR SALE.
- I SUSPECT
YOU MEAN THAT RUDELY.
- STATE YOUR BUSINESS.
THIS IS A BUSINESS HOUSE,
AND YOU ARE ON BUSINESS HOURS.
- WELL, TO TELL THE TRUTH,
I THOUGHT EMMA JOHNSON MADE YOU
A RIGHT HANDSOME OFFER, WILLIE,
FOR THAT VIRGIN,
GERTRUDE DIX?
- DAMN YOU, TOM.
NOT FOR ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY.
I COULDN'T SEND TRUDY
INTO THAT CESSPOOL.
- IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE!
ALL THESE COLORS.
OH, I'M SO GLAD COUNTESS
WILLIE LET ME TAKE THIS OUT.
ONLY THING IS, SHE DON'T LET ME
OUT OF HER SIGHT.
WELL, ANYWAY, SHE THOUGHT I
WAS LOOKING A LITTLE BIT PALE,
SO HERE I AM.
- LIGHT ME.
- I'D LOVE TO, WILLIE.
- DON'T BE SMART ON MY TIME.
YOU'RE NOT IN THE JOHNSON HOUSE.
- BUT I'M ON MY TERRITORY.
- YOU'RE OBNOXIOUS.
- I TAKE PRETTY MUCH
WHAT I WANT.
THAT'S STILL THE RULE.
- WHAT DO YOU WANT?
I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE,
TOM ANDERSON.
AND FOR A FACT...
I NEVER DID IT
WITH THE LIKES OF YOU.
- NOW, DON'T GO LOOKING
TO BUY TROUBLE
WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH
OF IT AROUND FOR FREE.
- I BORROWED IT
FROM TOM ANDERSON.
AIN'T IT A HONEY?
- JUST DON'T BLOW UP IN IT.
- WHY DON'T YOU SIT BACK
AND RELAX?
NOW, YOU'RE GETTING
A RIDE FOR NOTHING.
TOM ANDERSON TALK TO YOU?
- WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT TOM ANDERSON?
- I KNOW HE TALKED
TO THE COUNTESS
ABOUT GETTING YOU OVER
TO EMMA JOHNSON'S.
AND COKE-EYED LAURA TOLD ME YOU
COULD MAKE A FORTUNE OVER THERE.
YOU GONNA TAKE IT?
- IF I'M GONNA SELL MYSELF,
I MIGHT AS WELL GET THE HIGHEST
PRICE I POSSIBLY CAN.
WHAT BUSINESS IS IT
OF YOURS ANYWAY?
- PLENTY.
I'M THINKING OF GOING
OVER THERE MYSELF.
- BULLSHIT!
- REMEMBER NELLY MOSES?
- THE WHITE SLAVE?
- MM-HMM.
SHE RAN AWAY.
- CAN'T IMAGINE WHY.
- ANYWAY, SHE WAS CAUGHT,
AND SOME DO-GOODING
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF
TO SEE SHE GOT FREE.
- HURRAY
FOR THE FORCES OF SANITY.
- WELL, A LITTLE NOOKIE HERE,
A LITTLE PRESSURE THERE,
TOMORROW THE HONORABLE
JUDGE THORNTON
IS GONNA FIND NELLY GUILTY.
- OF WHAT?
- OF THEFT
OF HER OWN GODDAMN BODY.
WHICH RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO US.
I GET WHAT I WANT,
AND I WANT THAT VIRGIN,
GERTRUDE DIX,
FOR EMMA,
INTACT,
TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.
TWO WEEKS.
GOOD DAY...
WHAT'S LEFT OF IT.
- EMMA JOHNSON DON'T CARE A PISS
ABOUT MUSIC,
AND YOU KNOW IT.
BESIDES, SHE'S REALLY BAD.
I DON'T THINK YOU'D LIKE IT OVER
THERE ANYWAY, KID.
- YOU KNOW I'M OVER 21.
- WELL, I CAN TAKE CARE OF
MYSELF JUST AS WELL AS YOU CAN.
- I THINK YOU OUGHT TO TELL
EMMA JOHNSON TO GO TO HELL.
- I THINK YOU OUGHT TO GO BACK
TO ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY.
- VIRGIN FROM PITTSBURGH.
HUH.
- OKAY, I'M SORRY.
I REALLY AM SORRY.
I JUST HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE,
THAT'S ALL.
AND IT'S JUST
A LITTLE DIFFICULT.
- I CARE ABOUT YOUR DECISION.
- THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU ALSO CARE
TO STOP THAT.
- WHAT?
- YOU'VE GOT YOUR HAND
ON MY BOTTOM.
- HMM?
- YOUR HAND ON MY BOTTOM.
- OH, YEAH.
- IT'S JUST THAT THIS IS
MY FIRST RENDEZVOUS WITH YOU,
AND, WELL...
I'D JUST LIKE YOU TO HAVE
A LITTLE RESPECT FOR ME.
THAT'S ALL.
I'M NOT ONE OF THE GIRLS YET,
AND I WON'T BE
TILL AFTER THE AUCTION.
- KID, TONIGHT'S THE AUCTION.
I'M FRIGHTENED.
- TRUDY, DR. MILES
IS HERE FOR HIS PAYMENT,
AND YOU'RE IT,
IF HE BIDS HIGH ENOUGH.
- ARE WE READY?
WELCOME.
WELCOME, SENATOR.
AH, COME IN. COME IN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
COME IN. COME IN.
HELLO, HELLO.
JUST FINE.
PLEASE, SIT DOWN.
COME ON, PACK IT UP.
CHOP, CHOP, CHOP.
GENTLEMEN, GENTLEMEN!
GENTLEMEN AND LADIES.
IN KEEPING WITH OUR TRADITION
OF SERVING THE FINEST
OF EVERYTHING...
- OH!
- I PRESENT MS. GERTRUDE DIX,
VIRGIN.
GUARANTEED AND CERTIFIED.
RIGHT?
- YES'M.
- DOES SHE SPEAK FRENCH?
- MAIS, OUI.
- LOVE THAT FRENCH.
- WHOO-HOO!
- THE BIDDING, GENTLEMEN,
WILL START AT $500.
- $500?
THAT'S PRETTY HIGH.
- A LITTLE STEEP THERE, WILLIE.
- $400?
- I'LL SAY $300.
- $302.
- $350.
- WHAT NOW?
- THE SHOW'S GONNA BEGIN NOW.
- $375.
- OH!
- $500.
- $520.
- FIVE.
- SHE SURE LOOKS PRETTY.
- $525, GENTLEMEN?
PRIME VIRGIN TERRITORY.
- $550.
- TAKE IT OFF.
TAKE IT OFF.
HIDE YOUR EYES.
- $575.
All: OOH.
- LET'S SEE YOU SOME MORE.
TURN AROUND, BABY!
TURN AROUND.
- $600.
- TAKE ME TO THE BANK.
- $650, BUT I'LL FINISH TAKING
OFF THE BLOOMERS.
- $800.
- $800 IN CASH?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
- MY MONEY IS AS GOOD
AS ANYBODY'S.
- GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE...
SOLD.
- KID, ARE YOU AWAKE?
- YEAH.
- I'M SORRY.
I'M REALLY SORRY.
- WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SORRY
ABOUT EVERYTHING?
I WAS THINKING
ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM.
- TOM ANDERSON?
- YEAH.
- KID,
IT'S NOT JUST MY PROBLEM.
IT'S YOUR PROBLEM TOO.
HE'S NOT GONNA BE TOO PLEASED
AT ALL
WHEN HE FINDS OUT
ABOUT THIS.
- I GOT A FRIEND IN CHICAGO.
- OH, EVERYBODY'S GOT A FRIEND
IN CHICAGO.
SO THAT'S WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN SITTING THERE
THINKING ABOUT ALL NIGHT?
- I WAS THINKING
ABOUT HOW I LOVE YOU.
- I LOVE YOU TOO.
- WILL YOU MARRY ME?
- OF COURSE I WILL.
- FOR BETTER OR WORSE?
- HOW MUCH WORSE DOES IT GET?
- WELL, MY FRIEND IN CHICAGO
WANTS TO GO IN HALVES
ON A CABARET CLUB,
AND THAT WAS MY HALF.
I'M BROKE.
- WHAT?
WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?
- DOES IT MATTER?
- I LOVE YOU.
WE'VE HAD THE WORST.
NOW I'M READY FOR THE BETTER.
- GOOD NIGHT, SWEET PRINCE.
- WE ARE NOT TO BE.
DAMN IT, LAURA.
I HAVE NEVER MET
ANYONE LIKE YOU.
EVERY TIME I THINK
I'VE DONE IT ALL,
YOU COME UP WITH SOMETHING
I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT OF
IN A MILLION YEARS.
- MM-HMM.
- DAMN, WOMAN, YOU TURN ME
EVERY WAY BUT LOOSE.
BETWEEN YOUR SEXUAL QUIRKS
AND YOUR DOPE DREAMS,
THAT MIND OF YOURS
MUST BE SPLIT TO PIECES.
- MM-HMM.
- YOU'RE PROBABLY IN LEAGUE
WITH APHRODITE.
OR THE DEVIL HIMSELF.
- JUST CALL IT
THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC.
OR MAYBE VOODOO.
- I MEAN TO TELL YOU,
THAT WILLIE PIAZZA DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT SHE'S GOT IN YOU.
IF SHE'D ONLY GIVE
YOU YOUR HEAD.
THAT VIRGIN IS PENNY ANTE STUFF.
- VIRGIN?
WHAT VIRGIN?
TRUDY?
DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH.
SHE'S JUST RARIN' TO GO
EVER SINCE SHE MET
THAT PIANO PLAYER, KID ROSS.
- RUN THAT BY ME ONE MORE AGAIN.
WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY?
- KID ROSS JUST PICKED THE FRUIT
RIGHT OFF THE TREE
RIGHT UNDER YOUR VERY NOSE.
- AH, COME ON.
- EMMA JONES
HAS LOST HER VIRGIN.
EMMA JONES HAS LOST HER VIRGIN.
- WELL, I'LL BE DAMNED.
THAT WHOREHOUSE
PIANO-PLAYING KID.
WELL, NOW, NOBODY--
NOBODY PICKS THEIR FRUIT OFF
OF TOM ANDERSON'S ORCHARD
WITHOUT PAYING THE PRICE!
THEY CAN'T GET AWAY WITH IT.
TAKE CARE OF 'EM BOTH, LAURA.
GET ALL THE HELP YOU NEED
FROM YOUR LITTLE SEWING CIRCLE
OF FRIENDS.
AARON HARRIS,
MADAME PAPALOOS,
ANYBODY!
OR ANYTHING THAT DEVIOUS LITTLE
MIND OF YOURS CAN CONJURE UP.
- AND WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?
- WELL, YOU DO A GOOD JOB...
AND I'LL KEEP YOU IN LOTUS LAND
AS LONG AS THERE'S OPIUM
IN CHINATOWN.
JUST MAKE SURE IT'S LIGHTS OUT
FOR THE BOTH OF THEM...
PERMANENTLY.
- WHERE ARE WE?
- PITTSBURGH.
WHERE DO YOU THINK WE ARE?
WE'RE IN STORYVILLE CEMETERY.
- MS. HATTIE C. HAMILTON,
QUEEN OF WHORES.
DIED 1885.
YOU KNOW SENATOR JAMES BEERS?
HE WAS HER MAN.
- NO, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF HIM.
- SHE SHOT HIM DEAD.
JOSIE ARLINGTON.
NO VIRGIN EVER LOST HER VIRTUE
IN HER HOUSE.
- I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO
TO CHICAGO FOR A WHILE.
I GOT TO TALK MY FRIEND
INTO OPENING THE JAZZ CLUB
WITHOUT ME PUTTING UP
ANY FRONT MONEY.
- WHY SHOULD HE DO THAT?
- WELL, FOR ONE THING,
HE'D HAVE THE BEST PIANO PLAYER
IN THE MIDWEST, ME.
AND, WELL...
JAZZ MUSIC IS MOVING NORTH,
AND...
PEOPLE UP THERE PAY A LOT
OF MONEY FOR OUR KIND OF MUSIC.
AND JELLY ROLL'S STAKIN' ME.
HE'S THINKING
OF MAKING THE MOVE TOO.
- WELL, WITH YOU GONE...
- LISTEN, IT'S JUST GONNA BE
FOR A WEEK.
- GENTLEMEN AND LADIES,
IN HONOR OF HER THIRD YEAR
AT NUMBER 317,
AND IN CONSIDERATION
OF OTHER THINGS,
LIKE JUST PLAIN HAVING
A GOOD TIME--
WHOO!
THE COUNTESS WILLIE PIAZZA
IS PROUD TO PRESENT--
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE
IF YOU LIKE IT...
THE COUNTESS WILLIE PIAZZA
COSTUME BALL!
- WHOO!
- I DON'T BELIEVE IN VOODOO.
- DON'T LEAVE NO HAIRS
IN YOUR HAIRBRUSH.
- WHOO!
WELL, I SURE DECLARE,
YOU ARE A GOOD SKATE.
- [speaking Creole]
GREAT SERPENT GOD,
BRING HER TO ME
AS STRAIGHT AS A ROD.
A SLAVE OF DAMBALLA
AND MY GREAT SNAKE,
BEWARE OF THE EVIL SPELL
I MAKE.
- LAURA LAFAYETTE HAS BOUGHT
ENTRANCE TO THE RELIGION.
- COKE-EYED LAURA?
- SHE HAS BOUGHT ENTRANCE,
JUST AS SOMEDAY YOU WILL BUY
ENTRANCE BY BRINGING ME ANOTHER.
- I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!
- THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE?
- I DON'T KNOW!
I DON'T KNOW!
I DON'T KNOW!
IT'S ALL SO FUZZY!
- THE POWER HAS BROUGHT YOU
TO ME.
- AAH!
- HI, HONEY.
COULD YOU STAND A GOOD TIME?
- HOW ABOUT A CUP OF COFFEE?
- HEY, BABY!
HOW 'BOUT A CUP OF COFFEE
AND SOME SWEET, SWEET SUGAR.
- HEY, SATCHELMOUTH, MY MAN.
HEY, DO YOU KNOW ANY
MENDELSSOHN?
'CAUSE YOU'RE INVITED
TO A WEDDING.
MINE.
- AMEN.
NO WONDER YOU DON'T
WANT NO SUGAR.
WHO YOU MARRYIN'?
- OH, YOU KNOW MY GIRL?
MS. TRUDY DIX?
- MS. TRUDY?
- YEAH.
- YOU BETTER CALL OFF
YOUR PREACHER,
'CAUSE THE VOODOO QUEEN HAS
CALLED MS. TRUDY TO HER ALTAR.
- WHAT?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
- IT'S TRUE.
I SAW HER.
THE MARK OF DAMBALLA
WAS ON HER.
SHE'S FOR MADAME PAPALOOS.
- WHERE IS SHE?
CAN YOU TAKE ME TO HER?
- CAN'T.
I GOT TO GO CART COAL
ON BASIN STREET.
JUST FOLLOW THE DRUMS.
FOLLOW THE DRUMS.
THAT'S WHERE SHE IS.
- WELL, HELL.
WATCH THIS FOR ME.
YOU'RE STILL INVITED.
- I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
I WONDER IF MENDEL
WHAT'S-HIS-NAME
EVER FOUND A GRIS-GRIS SPELL
ON HIS DOORSTEP.
- WHY?
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?
WHY?
- BECAUSE OF KID ROSS.
THE SNAKE GOD...
- WHY?
WHAT DID HE EVER DO TO YOU?
- HE AIN'T DONE NOTHING TO ME.
HE HURT MY MAN.
- LET HIM GO!
- AN EYE FOR AN EYE.
- LET HIM GO!
- HE LIVES SO FAR.
- LET HIM GO!
- IT'S YOU WHO IS CAUGHT.
HIS WOMAN FOR MY MAN.
- SHE'S YOURS, HOUNGAN PRIEST.
AARON HARRIS!
- AHH!
NO!
- DON'T DIRTY THE RUG.
YOU NEED NOT MAKE
ANY STATEMENT.
THAT IS, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO REMAIN SILENT.
- EVERYTHING WAS GOING
PERFECTLY.
HOW DID YOU FIND ME?
- ANYTHING YOU SAY MAY BE USED
AGAINST YOU IN TRIAL.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSULT
WITH AND OBTAIN THE ADVICE
OF AN ATTORNEY OR...
- WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
- YOU JUST RELAX.
JUST RELAX.
YOU'RE A LUCKY LADY.
A LOT LUCKIER THAN THE OTHERS.
- SHE WAS WORTH 5 GRAND, EASY.
- MY HEAD IS POUNDING SO MUCH.
- JUST LIE BACK AND RELAX.
YOU'VE HAD A VERY NEAR MISS.
YOU WERE ALMOST THE VICTIM
OF A RING
THAT SELLS HOMELESS GIRLS TO
THE RICH OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
- HOW DID YOU FIND ME?
THROUGH IDA OR BURT?
- NO.
THEY WERE PART OF THE RING.
UNDERCOVER DETECTIVE SORDIK
HAS HAD YOU UNDER SURVEILLANCE
EVER SINCE YOU GOT TO TOWN.
HE WONDERED WHY YOU NEVER LEFT
THE BODINE APARTMENT FOR DAYS.
YOU SHOULD PROBABLY BE
ON A BOAT NOW.
- WOULD YOU PLEASE THANK HIM
FOR ME?
- WHY DON'T YOU THANK HIM
YOURSELF?
DETECTIVE SORDIK?
THIS YOUNG LADY WOULD LIKE
TO THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR JOB.
- YEAH, I KNEW HER,
AND I SURE AS HELL WAS GOING
TO GET TO KNOW HER
A HELL OF A LOT BETTER.
AS FOR THE REST OF YOU,
WELL, MOST OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN
IS TRUE.
SOME OF IT IS WILD CONJECTURE,
BUT ALL OF IT IS SUCH
A COMPLICATED COMBINATION
OF THE TWO, THAT NO TWO STORIES
CONCERNING THE FRENCH QUARTER
ARE EVER NEARLY THE SAME.
THIS MUCH IS KNOWN.
COUNTESS WILLIE PIAZZA BECAME A
BONA FIDE MEMBER OF THE NOBILITY
THROUGH THE HUSBAND SHE ACQUIRED
ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA.
SATCHELMOUTH GREW UP
TO BECOME ONE
OF THE JAZZ TRUMPET GREATS
OF ALL TIME.
JELLY ROLL MORTON
DIDN'T DO BAD EITHER.
DR. MILES PEDDLED HIS DUBIOUS
SOCIAL DISEASE CURE
AND LATER INVENTED
A HEADACHE REMEDY
THAT BECAME FAMOUS FOR ITS FIZZ.
TOM ANDERSON,
AT THE AGE OF 71,
GOT RELIGION, AND JOINED
GERTRUDE DIX IN HOLY WEDLOCK.
ICE BOX JOSIE GOT DEFROSTED,
YEAH, FINALLY.
HE WAS A BIG FISHING TYCOON
FROM CANADA.
HE HAD A SON, A DAUGHTER,
AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN
HE NEVER SAW,
THE OLDEST OF WHICH
IS THE TELLER OF THIS UNLIKELY
AND MOST OUTRAGEOUS TALE.
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
NOW, Y'ALL DRIVE HOME CAREFULLY,
YOU HEAR?