Smokey and the Good Time Outlaws (1978) - full transcript
J.D. and The Salt Flat Kid have dreams of country-singer stardom and a habit of getting into trouble. After meeting a talent agent in a jail cell, the two buddies leave their small town and set off for Nashville, with hopes of making it to the Grand Ol' Opry on an adventure full of music, laughs, and crazy antics.
(MultiCom Jingle)
("I'd Like to Be in Nashville"
by Jesse Turner plays)
- What are you two doin' now?
You're both fired.
- Fired?
What do you mean fired, we quit!
(horn honking)
Got your clean shirt, JD,
hair is sure lookin' good.
I can't understand how
you stay so calm, JD.
- I never wanna work for
that idiot again, ever, ever!
- I think you're gonna get your wish, JD.
- Well, I'll tell you one thing.
That was our lucky break
getting fired from that job.
- Lucky, how can ya?
- That's right, lucky.
- How can you say that, JD?
Now we've been fired so many
places and so many times
round here well, there ain't
no place to get fired from.
- Good, that's the best
news I've heard yet.
You got a couple bucks on ya.
Here ya go Chuck, keep the change.
Help me with my shirt, kid.
- I understand how you
feel, JD but we could've
used the money.
- We never worried
about money before.
- How could we?
We never had any.
- Come on, Kid.
See ya, Chuck, come on, quit worryin'.
Besides, we got the big concert tonight.
- Ah, come on, JD.
- It's showtime.
(twangy music)
(applause)
- Ya'll havin' fun?
(whispering inaudibly)
Listen, I know all this
dancin' is makin' ya thirsty.
So we're gonna give ya a break
here and wet your whistle
while you listen to those
two ever popular local boys
JD and Salt Fly kid,
so without further ado,
I'd like to introduce that
song writer, singer, picker
and grinner, JD Todd and his
partner the Salt Fly kid.
What, what, don't forget the money.
Andy asked if ya'll really
be generous when the hat
comes around, we'd appreciate it.
(applause)
What are you doin' dancin'
with Cutter's girl?
(twangy music)
♪ You get a line, I'll get a pole ♪
♪ You get a line, I'll get a pole, babe ♪
♪ You get a line, I'll get a pole ♪
♪ We'll go down to the
crawdad, baby, baby, baby ♪
♪ Out comes a man with a
sack on his back, honey ♪
♪ Yonder comes a man with
a sack on his back, babe ♪
♪ Yonder comes a man
with a sack on his back ♪
♪ He's got a crawdads in that sack, baby ♪
♪ Honey, honey, mine ♪
(twangy music)
- [Woman] Get your hands off me,
leave me alone, I'm not going!
(intense music)
- Evenin' boys.
- How much do you reckon
we managed to pick
up off the floor, kid?
- Well, I got about $8
not counting the dimes and pennies.
I reckon I didn't do too bad considering
we only got through about half the song.
- You did better than
me, I only got $7.52.
- We ain't gonna make it
as singers at this rate.
- Ah, it ain't so bad,
we still got our leftover
pay with this, I figure, we
got a little over 80 bucks.
- A pleasant good evening
to you, gentlemen.
- Howdy.
- Hey.
- Tyrone T Sullivan here, at your service.
I don't believe I caught your handle.
- I'm JD Todd and this
here's the Salt Flat Kid.
- The Salt Flat kid, Todd,
I assure you the pleasure
is all mine, gentlemen, my card.
- Nashville.
- You're from Nashville.
- That's right, Nashville.
- Are you in like it says
here, an artist manager?
- You've heard of Mickey
Gilley, Freddie Fender,
the Immortal Marty Robins,
Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn.
- You manage all them folks?
- Each and every one of
those people carry my card.
As a matter of fact, I'm here
on a business arrangement
right now for the great Chett Atkins.
- You reckon you could help us?
- I don't see why not,
I helped them, didn't I?
- Sure would appreciate it.
- Yes sir.
- Well, if I could
settle with that Sheriff,
I could get on the telephone
and arrange with those
great Nashville talents to
help you up the staircase
to the stairs.
- You mean the Grand?
- The Grand Ole Opry, that's right, son.
But there's a matter of say $20, without
that I'm completely helpless.
- Mr Sullivan, would this
help, would this help ya?
- Gentlemen, a wise investment
in an unlimited future.
Now all that remains for
me, come morning is to make
a few strategic phone calls,
some words to the wise
and JD and the Salt Flat
kid will be launched.
- Thanks.
- We appreciate it.
- Todd, Kid, come on
out, believe it or not,
there's no damages reported last night.
I'm gonna give you boys a head start on.
(intense music)
- What happened to Mr Sullivan?
- He paid his fine and left.
- Great.
(rooster crowing)
- Well, here we are folks,
them two superstars,
JD Todd and the Salt Flat
Kid, back from another
successful engagement in the
grits room of the county jail,
Stump, Texas.
- Don't make fun of the
jail, I kinda like it.
- JD, the food's terrible
and you know it.
- You reckon that Tyrone fella
knew what he was talkin' about?
- He did know all them stars.
- How far is it to Nashville?
- Nashville, now it's too far for us.
- Get a map, kid.
- JD, come on.
- Get a map.
- Sit right here.
JD's got another scheme.
Looky there JD, that's over 1,000 miles.
- It aint but that far on the map.
- It's still too far, we shouldn't do it.
- Why, we got the talent
and now we finally
got somebody that's gonna help
us, why shouldn't we do it?
You wanna spend another
night in the county jail?
- I reckon you're right.
No one seems to be
helpin' us here, why not?
Give me that map, I'll
find a way to Nashville.
- Now you're talkin' kid, come on.
- Goodbye smelly honky
tonks and beer bar bosses!
- Goodbye hairy legged women!
- Goodbye lonesome nights!
- Goodbye county jail!
- Goodbye Salt Flat, Texas!
- Nashville, here we come!
(cheering)
(twangy music)
♪ Country is my joy, I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(twangy music)
♪ But now I'm singin' country songs ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(twangy music)
♪ This is a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
- What are you doin', JD, you crazy?
- The sign, kid, read the sign.
- The sign, what sign, where?
The Duck River Speedway, guest
appearance, Mickey Gilley.
Aint that our Mickey
Gilley, Tyrone's friend?
- I think it is.
- Think he'll see us?
- We got the same manager, don't we?
(horns honking)
Watch where you're going!
Are you crazy?
- Yeah.
- He must be going to Speedway.
- I hope he'll see us.
- He'll see us.
I hope old Tyrone called him.
- I'm sure he did, I'm sure he did.
We're on our way, JD.
- Now in Nashville, we're
livin' right, aren't we, kid?
- You bet.
(revving)
You sure this is the
way to the parking lot.
JD, this don't look like
no parking lot to me.
- Just relax.
- Howdy Officer.
- [JD] It sure is dusty, isn't
it, kid, can't see a thing.
- There's a first, ladies and gentlemen,
a pick up truck in a demolition derby.
- JD, we're on the racetrack!
- Well, ladies
and gentlemen, it's time.
- These fellas are crazy kid.
Hang on, we're gettin' out of here.
- [Kid] You bet, watch out.
(yelling)
Watch out, watch out!
They got our fender, JD, oh no.
What are we gonna do now!
These people driving crazy!
We're gettin' out of here, hang on.
I don't think they're
gonna open that gate.
What about Mickey Gilley?
- We'll catch him later when
people aint trying to kill us.
Hang on!
- JD!
(intense music)
♪ I got a whole lot of
things to sing about ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of things to sing ♪
♪ Like I love you and I need you ♪
♪ Every night and day ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of
things I want to do ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of dreams to dream ♪
♪ And I want you here beside
me every step of the way ♪
♪ I was lonely as anyone could ever be ♪
♪ Until you came along,
gave your love to me ♪
♪ And the empty world and
you just walked into ♪
♪ You're still with Sunshine
and music and the song is you ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of
things to sing about ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of things to sing ♪
♪ Like I love you and I need you ♪
♪ Every night and day ♪
♪ I got a whole things I want to do ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of dreams to dream ♪
♪ And I want you here beside
me every step of the way ♪
(twangy music)
(laughing)
- My arms a little heavy.
- Yeah.
- Hard to hold 'em up here.
- Well put 'em around me.
- Do what?
- Put 'em around me, that better?
(laughing)
- What is that choreography?
- Choreographer, yeah.
- What is that?
- Well, I create and teach
dances to other people.
- Ya'll do the same thing?
- She's my business manager.
- Right, she's got the talent
and I've got the brains.
(laughing)
- What do you ladies like to do for fun?
- What do you call fun?
- I don't know.
JD, how far is it to Nashville?
- You girls got a place
to stay in Nashville?
- Yeah, we do.
♪ Like I love you and I need
you every night and day ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of
things I want to do ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of dreams to dream ♪
♪ And I want you here beside
me every step of the way ♪
(twangy music)
- That JD sure is cute.
- We just met him, Sandy.
Don't go rushing into things, as usual.
- All I said was he's cute.
- Kid, I think it's round
up time in Tennessee.
- It's about time.
- Hey!
You cowboys seen two girls?
- Why, what's up?
- Kidnappin', that's what.
Some fool run off with my fiance.
They're not gonna get too far though.
My uncle's got road blocks
up from here to Nashville.
- Road blocks?
- That's right.
My uncle's the Sheriff of Nashville.
He don't take too kindly to kidnapping.
- Kidnapping?
- Why else would she run off?
We supposed to get married next week.
- What do these two girls look like?
- I'll tell you my fiance,
Sandy, she's blonde,
beautiful, real pretty girl,
the other one's a red head.
The one she runs with, kinda looks like
a cock roach or something like that.
Looks like that boy in there's
kinda thick in the head, is he?
- Well in a manner of speaking.
- Yeah, I'll tell you what though.
Now take heart to this, I've
been readin' them science
magazines and they do
medical miracle every day.
Somethin' new come
along, he'll be alright.
- There they go!
- What?
- Those two girls, with
that guy in that car.
Come on, let's help, come on, here we go!
(intense music)
Hurry up, let's go, come on.
- What's the matter?
- [Kid] Sandy, we just met your fiance.
- Fiance, how dare he
call himself her fiance?
Look, Sandy was playing a club in Memphis
and that animal Arthur came
in and took a liking to her.
Well, that's no big deal,
everybody who sees Sandy on
stage takes a liking to her
but Arthur kept coming in
night after night, Sandy
felt sorry for him.
She brings home stray dogs, it's like
living with the Salvation Army.
She wants to save the world, anyway,
Arthur kept pushing
this clunker car on her.
She didn't want it but no Dumbo insisted.
So she took it but believe me,
there were strings attached.
Arthur came down heavy, Sandy
had to marry him or else.
We had to run for our lives.
We had to use the old
clunker car to do it.
- Is that true, Sandy?
- Would I lie to you?
- No, ma'am.
(intense music)
Misery, look at that.
- Uh oh.
- [Sandy] I guess he does have
an uncle that's the Sheriff.
- [Kid] They're lookin' for
someone, I'll bet it's us.
(intense music)
- What seems to be the problem, officer?
- Long haired hippie freaks,
that's what the problem is.
Kidnappers, murderers, stick
up men, thieves, no pushers,
wife stealers, gamblers,
shiesters, lone sharks.
That's the problem, peepin'
toms, panders, falanders,
pot heads, howdy do ma'am,
Texas cowboys and pick up trucks
that oughta be scrapped on, my hate list.
- What list is that, Sheriff?
- My hate list, buster.
Boys lookin' kind of nervous.
I don't reckon either one of
ya's got a driver's license.
- Yeah, right here, here it is, sir.
- Where you boys headin'?
- We're gonna go to Nashville.
- To get on the Grand Ole Opry?
- That's right.
- Yes, sir.
- These your bags?
- Yes sir, that's our bags.
- Texans, if the Indians
were to attack today,
they'd probably take her and
never even fire an arrow.
Why don't you two sweet
things back home on
the range where ya belong?
- Truth is Sheriff, the
Sheriff back home was
wondering why we didn't just move along.
- Right and Nashville came
highly recommended by friend.
- Well, your friend was
wrong, if you picked a guitar
like Roy Clark, sang like
Johnny Cash, looked like
Dolly Parton, you'd still be wrong.
This here town's full of singin' cowboys.
And they're all washin'
cars or fryin' hamburgers
and finger lickin' chicken,
I'm a human polygraph.
You tell me a line, I spot it like that.
A big Whopper or a little
white one, don't make
no difference to me, what'd
you do with the girls?
- To tell you the truth, Sheriff, I can't
remember the last time we
did anything with a girl.
- I don't reckon you can.
Here and get out of my sight, drive it.
Boy, I know times a
changed but I don't believe
the Grand Old Opry is
ready for a couple of
soprano cowboys just
yet, come on, come on.
- I'm gettin' that old feelin', JD.
- What feelin's that kid.
- A hankering to turn around
and get on back home to
Salt Flat, Texas, I believe
this outside world's dangerous.
- I don't remember anybody
tellin' us it was gonna be easy.
(intense music)
Get ready, kid.
(pleasant music)
How ya doin', sir?
- What can I get you?
- I just wanna tell you
about this bad radiator
you get there in the trunk.
- I gotta stop and look
at that.
- Come on, I'll help you.
- Thank you.
- Come on, watch.
- These radiators, you
don't know what to do.
- That's a nice old car,
you take good care of it.
- Well, it's all I got, I have to keep it.
- Yeah, let me show you where it is.
It's leakin' pretty bad
right up under there.
Can you see that with me?
- That's what it is.
- Right there, see that leak?
- Yeah, what the?
- Sir, you oughta look
at the rest of this.
(intense music)
- Thanks for the ride.
- What in the blazes those
two girls doin' here?
- Beats me, I think he got
'em out of your rumble seat.
- My rumble seat?
- Yes sir, I think so.
When's the last time
you looked back there.
- It's been some time, I
have to look at it more.
- I'll tell you what, if I
was you, I'd start lookin'
back there more often.
- Thank you very much.
- Good luck to you, sir, much obliged.
(intense music)
- All clear.
(engine running)
- What's the trouble, old timer?
- Sheriff, I guess you better take me in.
I think I was asleep at the wheel.
I was gettin' along fine,
I think and then the next
thing I know these cowboys came along
and started pullin' girls
out of my rumble seat.
- Texas cowboys.
- That's what the plate said.
- I was the one that got caught nappin'.
(intense music)
(sirens)
- My goodness, what's gonna happen next?
(sirens)
(intense music)
- Hold on!
(intense music)
(train horn honking)
(intense music)
- [Man On Radio] Uncle Calvin,
coming in, Uncle Calvin.
This is Arthur, Uncle Calvin,
come in, Uncle Calvin.
- Yeah, go ahead.
- Uncle Calvin, is it you?
- Who you think it is, Johnny Cash?
- [Man On Radio] Uncle
Calvin, I just wanted to tell
you your hamburger's gettin' cold.
- Not any colder than your brain, you!
- Settle down, Kid, just 22
miles and we'll be home safe.
- Safe, now how do you figure that?
Kidnapping's a serious charge
and we aint in Salt Flat,
Texas, this is Tennessee,
lord knows what they
do to you for kidnapping here.
- Yeah but no one was kidnapped.
- I'm tellin' ya, that
Sheriff back there is mean.
And he don't like Texans,
just some throw us in jail,
throw away the key and then
just hang us out to dry.
- Look, no one was kidnapped,
we came of our own free will.
We're the kidnappees.
- Would ya'll relax?
Just relax.
(sirens)
- Siren, JD, they got us!
- They ain't got us, yet!
Hang on!
(screams)
- I told ya, hurry it up, hurry it up
or we're going back to jail, come on!
(sirens)
- It's only an ambulance.
- We knew it was just an ambulance.
- We're just trickin' ya, hurt your leg?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
(laughing)
What a trick, huh?
(horses neighing)
(intense music)
- Sandy, you know what
I was just thinkin'?
See those horses out there?
35 years, my life's been just like that.
I just run around and round in circles
and I don't ever seem to go anyplace.
- Who does?
- I know that.
But there's gotta be
more to life than that.
It's the reason I left Salt Flat.
- Salt Flat, is that really a place?
- Yeah, that's the only
place that's no place.
- That's where you met
your friend, isn't it?
- Yeah, yeah, he and I
failed third grade together.
At least we do one thing well together.
We play, sing, that makes people happy
and I guess that's what it's all about.
- So now you're off to Nashville
to be a big star, right?
- Being a big star but I really would like
to sing in the Grand Ole Opry,
sing to all those people.
- You think it's possible?
- I'm gonna try real hard.
- Boy, you really have that show biz bone.
- Thanks, what about you?
- There's not much to talk
about, I'm sort of like you,
I'm just lookin' for my place.
- Don't you like bein' a dancer?
- Oh, I like it, it's the only
thing I have to hold onto.
But it gets lonely.
- I can't imagine you getting lonely.
- Well traveling around
from place to place,
workin' late every night,
you don't really get a chance
to meet someone special or
to form a real relationship.
(intense music)
- Hey kid, you got the most
adorable dummy I've ever seen.
- Thank you.
- Where'd you get him?
- Bought him from an old
ventriloquist who's down and out.
- Were you always
interested in show business?
- Well yeah but before JD
and I did a little rodeo,
well JD got hurt and quit
and I just went along.
- I can't imagine what
kind of show business
they have in Salt Flat.
- Well, we had three bars
we played at, the VFW hall.
We played a lot at the boy's gymnasium.
- Scared about going to Nashville?
- Scared, truth is, I haven't
been but about 10 miles
out of Salt Flat and well,
I expect they'll be a lot
more people in Nashville
lookin' at us than
there are the whole city of Salt Flat.
The truth is this is all new to me.
- You're scared.
- Yeah.
Excuse me, hey, we're
ready, let's move 'em out.
(intense music)
♪ No more drivin', no more dust ♪
♪ We made it here before our bus ♪
♪ Made it made to Nashville,
that's where we'll be ♪
♪ Made it to Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
♪ We had a little trouble ♪
♪ We had a little pain ♪
♪ But we don't worry when
we're lookin' for fame ♪
♪ Right here in Nashville,
that's where it will be ♪
♪ Here in Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
♪ Here in Nashville, we
made it to Nashville ♪
♪ We made it to Nashville,
we made it to Nashville, ♪
♪ Nashville, Tennessee ♪
(twangy music)
♪ We gonna boogy, we gonna roll ♪
♪ We gonna sing that country soul ♪
♪ Like doin' Nashville,
that's where we'll be ♪
♪ Here in Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
- Boy, that's somethin'.
- The way that old boy was
dressed.
- Here's where we get out.
- What?
- Can you help me with the
bags, kid?
- Thanks for bein' so sweet,
JD.
- Why do you have to leave?
- We have to.
- I sure would like to
see you again, Sandy.
- I'd like to see you too but right
now we have commitments.
- Thanks kid, please take care of JD.
Good luck, JD.
- Bye kid.
Bye JD.
(slow music)
- Thank you ma'am.
(chatter)
Hey kid, look here.
Marty Robins is in town tonight.
- Our Marty Robins?
- Yeah.
Playin' at the Armadillo
East Club on 32nd and 2nd.
- Tonight?
What are you doing?
- Give me a dime.
- Hey listen,
you get ahold of Marty,
tell him I said hi, okay?
- Hello sir, I'd like to
speak with Mr Marty Robins.
Please sir, JD Todd, he
probably won't know me
but he'll know my manager,
Tyrone T Sullivan, yes sir,
Sullivan, he's Mr Robins manager too.
Pardon me?
Say that again, sir.
You say he'll be there in about an hour.
Listen, would you tell him that JD Todd
and the Salt Flat Kid called, yes sir,
JD Todd and the Salt Flat
kid with Tyrone T Sullivan.
Thank you sir, thank you.
Hurry up, kid, come on, come on.
Is that my hamburger?
Let's go, come on, let's go.
Marty Robins, give me some money, huh?
How much is it, give me
some money, thank you ma'am.
- JD, get the change.
- Don't worry about it, kid.
We in the big time now.
- It's a waste of money now.
- Don't worry about it.
(harmonica music)
Come on, we've arrived, we're here.
Come on, kid, come on, let's go.
Yeah, we got this, come on, baby.
- Marty Robins.
- Howdy.
- [Bouncer] $4 a piece, date's free.
- Four bucks a pop, that's
pretty steep aint it?
- Marty Robins cost money,
somebody's gotta pay.
- Alright, four bucks and that's my date.
- Hey, I like a joke better than most
but I aint laughin' either pay up,
or step back and let these
payin' customers through.
- $4.
(soft twangy music)
- What are we gonna do now, JD?
- Ah, don't worry about it,
I'll think of something.
Hey kid, come here.
Give me that, give me your handkerchief.
- Your nose runnin'?
- Give me the handkerchief, just.
- JD, people can see us.
- Start lickin' your lips.
- Lick my what?
- Lick your lips.
- JD, people out there.
- Come on, lick your lips.
- JD, I aint goin' for this.
- [JD] Now listen, start
pinchin' your cheeks.
- Pinch my cheeks?
- Pinch your cheeks.
Make 'em red, now come on.
- JD, I aint gonna do this.
JD, I'm not gonna do this.
- Come on, pinch your cheeks.
- Ah, come on.
- Lick your lips.
Come on, lick your lips.
- I just told ya that I aint laughin'.
- Can't you take a joke?
- Yeah, sour puss.
- Excuse me.
(twangy music)
- Do you have reservations?
- We're guests of Marty Robins.
- Yes, we have the same manager.
- Tyrone T Sullivan.
- Right this way, gentlemen.
(twangy music)
- What'll you have?
- Beer.
- Two?
- No ma'am, just one.
- Ladies and gentlemen, I
know ya'll came here tonight
to see Marty Robins, we're
gonna do one more song.
And he's gonna be out, here's the song.
(upbeat music)
- Sandy, how are you?
- What are you doin' here?
- We're guests of Mr Marty Robins.
- He's gonna help us out.
- That's so professional.
- Right, old Tyrone finally came through.
- Hey man, Mr Ramsey don't
like intruders, okay?
- These are just friends of ours.
- Excuse me, let me introduce you.
- I have enough friends
already, thank you.
- Okay sucker, move.
(screams)
(intense music)
(yelling)
- What's goin' on in there, any how?
Arthur, come here, I'm
gonna need reinforcements.
Well don't just sit there you
big dummy, come over here.
Raise your right hand and swear.
- Uncle, I can't.
- That's enough.
Now here, take that whistle.
Go on inside, clean out that place.
I'll cover ya from behind.
(whistle blowing)
(screams)
- Let's get out of here!
(whistle blowing)
- Get out of the way, you
never could do nothin' right.
(whistle blowing)
Alright, alright, knock
it off, knock it off!
Knock it off, there they
are, the kidnappers!
(twangy music)
(sirens)
(squealing tires)
Scoot over, scoot over, hurry
up, get goin', get goin'!
- I can't uncle!
- What do you mean,
you can't?
- I aint got the keys.
- Oh.
Get out, quick.
- I can't.
- Oh you stupid.
You're dumber than a box of rocks.
- I'm on your side.
(twangy music)
- Misery, what else could go wrong?
(intense music)
(crashes)
(barking)
(screams)
What are we gonna do now, JD?
- I don't know, don't worry,
I'll think of something.
(barking)
The dog will be gone
in a few minutes, Kid.
(intense music)
(rooster crowing)
- Hey, you two fellas up there.
You want me to call off the dog?
You've been up there about five hours.
I figure that oughta be enough,
unless you were a couple of
them real tough characters.
- No ma'am, we ain't.
- Ma'am, we just
needed a tire real bad.
- We didn't know you lived here.
We figured well, we'll
settle up with ya later.
- Right.
- Well that's mighty sportin' of ya.
Well, how about it, then,
do you wanna come down?
- Yes ma'am, yes ma'am, we sure do.
- Come on down.
- Can we?
- I'm sure no friend of Sheriff Letty.
And I didn't figure you
for a couple of kidnappers
or tire snatchers,
everybody knows that every
junkyard has got a
guard dog and so I'm not
gonna turn ya in until after
you've had your breakfast.
Settle down, fellas, I'm not
gonna have you locked up.
I know what show business is all about.
- You sure know the big ones, ma'am.
- They're all my friends.
- Really?
- Sure, I've seen them
all come to town with
stars in their eyes and
nothin' in their pockets.
- What happens to 'em?
- Sometimes they make
it and sometimes they don't.
- We're gonna make it, we
already got us a manager.
- What junkyard is he rippin' off now?
- No ma'am, he's back in Texas
doin' some work for Chett Atkins.
- And in the meantime, what
are you fellas gonna be doin'?
Snatching tires?
- No ma'am.
- Look, listen to an old lady.
You can't go drivin' through
Nashville in your beat
up old pick up truck and
waltz out onto the stage of
the Grand Ole Opry.
- No ma'am.
We've learned that.
- You got to have experience.
- It seems like we've been
gettin' a lot of that lately.
- You've got to have
more and the right people
have got to see ya and hear ya.
- How would we get to
meet the right people?
- The ones that make it big have an agent
and that's what you fellas need, an agent.
But in the meantime, sit down and let me
get some food ready for ya.
- Thank you ma'am.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
(horn honking)
Can you believe it, we
come 2,000 miles to get
on the Grand Ole Opry and we
can't even get an audition?
- Yeah, well don't worry
about it, I'll figure out
something, come on.
(intense music)
♪ Well I'm tryin' to find me an agent ♪
♪ Yeah, I'm tryin' to sing my song ♪
♪ Nobody here takes
time to hear my music ♪
♪ Oh, I guess I'll keep tryin' on my own ♪
♪ Nobody here knows I can play the piano ♪
♪ Nobody knows I can sing the blues ♪
♪ I've had a lot of them lately ♪
♪ Well, I play guitar, play
harmonica and I boogey ♪
♪ I guess I'll have to make it on my own ♪
♪ What do ya think ♪
(harmonica music)
♪ Sure gettin' tired ♪
(harmonica music)
- I'll tell you Marcy, it's
just one big run around.
We can't get a job without an agent.
We can't get an agent without a job.
- That figures, there's
18,000 fellows in town
each with the same dream
and more comin' every day.
This is the only town in the world where
the mayor's got a recording contract.
- So I guess we still have
the same problem, don't we?
- This is real copper
now, take care of it.
- Yes ma'am.
So what do we do now, Marcy?
- Well the first thing you can do
is help me get out of this place.
- Yes ma'am.
- Give me a hand.
- Watch your step.
- Watch your step.
- Thank you boys.
- So what do you think?
Marcy, what should we do now?
- I just don't know, there
is this one fella that might
help you but no, I aint
gonna put ya through that.
- Why?
- 'Casue I just don't like
him, but probably he is your only chance.
- Could you get us an
appointment with him?
- That old crook owes me a favor.
I'll call him.
- Marcy, we love ya.
Don't we, kid?
- You bet.
(upbeat music)
(chatter)
- I can't deliver the Hardy's,
they're not available.
Okay, okay, sit tight, I'll be back.
- Mr Buffy.
- So you're JD?
You must be the Salt
Flat Kid, sit down, boys.
Some lunch.
- No thank you.
- [Mr Buffy] Bring the boys some coffee.
- No, that's okay.
- Marcy told me
you do a great act.
- Well, we work hard.
- How long you been in Nashville?
- [JD] A couple of days,
we were up in Texas.
- I need about 30 minutes,
you think I could handle it.
- Yeah, you bet we can,
JD's written so many songs,
it'd take us about two hours
to get through 'em all.
- Ned, Big Bob Buffy here
again, two hot out from Texas
just stopped by, I think I can
get 'em to your show tonight.
What, $75, are you kidding.
- We'll take it, Mr Buffy.
We'll take it, we'll take it.
- Quiet.
I couldn't offer 'em that
amount, it would be an insult.
100, well okay, you get them.
(cheering)
Take it easy, it's only a fill in date.
- I'll tell ya, Mr Buffy,
that 100's gonna come in
mighty handy.
- What 100?
What about my commission?
- I'm sorry I forgot.
- What do you think
I'm running here, charity?
I got overhead, I got expenses.
Here's how it works, I get
half, that leaves you with 50.
You have to pay Ned 25.
- Who's Ned?
- He's the manager, now
you got that $50 to me,
$25 to Ned leaves you with
$25, what do ya say, a deal?
- Yes sir.
- Your check sir.
- Thank you JD, that's class.
You can always tell a man by his actions.
It's those little moments
of initiative that make
the difference being
nobody and being somebody.
Let me tell you, JD, you are a somebody.
Hey, it'll be my pleasure to
buy lunch on your big day.
What are you gonna wear, you
got some cowboy rhinestone duds?
- No sir, this is all we have.
- No way, this is a high class club.
My acts have style, you two
had better get yourselves
some better looking clothes
if you wanna work this job.
- Yes sir, we will.
- Here's my card.
You come to the office about six o'clock
and I'll give you the directions, okay.
Now get yourself some nice clothes.
(twangy music)
- What do you figure happened to all these
folks had these guitars?
- I don't know.
Go back to Salt Flat or
some place just like it.
- They got a bunch of
'em, different colors,
shapes and sizes.
(chatter)
- What'd ya got?
- Brooch.
- Rich people don't come in here.
What'd you gotta hawk?
- Somethin' special.
- Betcha aint got one of those.
- What's his name?
- Andy.
- Hey, that's good, but what
am I gonna do with a dummy?
I got enough weirdness around here.
Take a look at that, 20
years ago I bought it.
20 years I'm trying to sell that
and I'll have better luck
with it than with your dummy.
- You mean we can't get any money?
- What am I gonna do with a doll?
- Not a doll, a dummy.
- If you say so, you're a dummy.
- Look sir, we just got our first booking
and we need some money for some clothes.
- Oh, you need clothes, well.
(twangy music)
♪ Don't you know I love you ♪
♪ Doubt everything but
not that I love you ♪
♪ Don't you know how much I care ♪
♪ Simply means how much
whenever you're not here ♪
(pleasant music)
(applause)
(upbeat music)
♪ The country is my joy I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ And now I'm singin' country songs ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
- How much?
- How much?
- Yes sir.
- $750.
- [Both] $750.
- Tax on the end of that.
- That's good,
that's real good, pretty good.
I always thought about takin' art.
I got a little bit of talent.
Let me see now, put some more
sideburns on that little guy.
Yeah, let me see the big
guy one more time now.
I think he had a cowboy hat or something,
maybe, it was a cowboy hat,
yeah, put that on there, good.
That's it, that's it, that
looks good, that's real good.
Hey Uncle Calvin, I think we got it here.
Little guy with the bushy
sideburns, I do remember that.
The big guy had on a cowboy
hat or something like that.
What do you think?
Little guy with the sideburns
and you see the bigger guy.
- Now what would you think if
you was lookin' at an idiot?
- What'd I do now?
- That don't look
anything like 'em, Arthur.
The little one was a lot fatter than that.
And the tall one was skinner.
With that you got the
mustache on the little one
and it was on the big one.
- I didn't draw it, Uncle Calvin.
- You wouldn't know
what you was lookin' at
if you was gazin' in the mirror.
Don't back me, boy, we
gotta catch them cowboys!
Now get back over there and do it again!
Get to work!
(mumbling)
(pleasant music)
(chatter)
(piano music)
(squeaking music)
- Okay, okay, that's enough, okay.
I'll get back to you guys, okay.
- Sure do appreciate it, Mr Buffy.
- Don't mention it, don't
mention it, come here.
Sit down and relax guys.
Take your money from Saturday.
- Mr Buffy, I wonder if we might talk to
you for a minute, sir.
- Yeah, why not?
- Sir, this $25
we're making on the
job is just not enough.
We made more than that back in Salt Flats.
- This aint Salt Flat, it's Nashville.
- Yes sir, I know that but you see, $25
that's just not enough to
live on here in Nashville.
- You guys are all the same.
You come here hungry, few days go by,
you get the wrinkles out of your belly
and then suddenly you're
too good for the club.
- No sir, it's not that,
its just that well,
we don't think it's fair that the club
manager gets half of our pay.
- We want $50 if that's what we earned.
- Nobody tells me how to run my business.
- We're not trying to tell
ya how to run your business.
Mr Buffy, we're not
trying to get personal.
- Not personal, listen
sonny, I'm not gonna let
a second rate cowboy act take me.
- Wait a minute.
- I don't need you.
Acts like you are a dime a dozen.
Yeah that's right, go on,
get outta here, go on.
Get out, get out, get out, go on, go on.
See if you do any better,
see how many agents
will bother with a couple
of armatures from Texas.
Go on, keep movin' you
ingrates, get out of my site.
I don't wanna ever see you guys again.
Don't you ever come crawlin' around here.
Tell Marcy not to ever call me again.
If you take my advice,
you'll stay out of Nashville.
Go on!
Hey you two, come back here.
Come back here for a minute, huh?
Come on, come on.
(intense music)
Stand up, I'm sorry I yelled at you guys.
I got an ulcer, 33 years
of booking these joints.
Believe me, I hate them as much as you.
But that's the only way, they start ya.
You gotta start somewhere, no shortcuts.
I know what I mean, I don't kid myself.
I'm a small time agent.
They go on to pay off the managers.
That's the only way I could get you in.
I mean, pay and play, why do I allow it?
'Cause I dream some day of being someone.
I dream that one day one
of my acts will make it.
Maybe even you, then I'll
get a call and they'll say
Bob, I want you to handle my business.
I'll be talking the big deals
and living the good life.
And that's why I hustle these joints.
'Cause I believe that
one day Big Bob Buffy
will have himself a star.
(intense music)
- Mr Buffy.
- Yes.
- You think we're Armature hour cowboys?
- Do you?
- No sir, I don't.
- Then prove it, work, work.
(intense music)
♪ Playin' piano, doin' a
show, look out Nashville, ♪
♪ Here we go, on the road to Nashville, ♪
♪ That's where we'll be ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee. ♪
(intense music)
♪ Lookin' for me, don't look too far ♪
♪ Find me playin' the old guitar ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
that's where I'll be ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
(harmonica music)
♪ We may be country, we may be poor ♪
♪ But listen up Nashville,
we'll give you more ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
that's where we'll be ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
(twangy music)
- [Both] Howdy Mr Friedman.
- What is it with you two guys?
One week you bring in the
dummy, a week goes by,
you take the dummy back,
another week goes by
and you bring the dummy
back in, what's goin' on?
- I don't know, it's like whatever we do,
it turns out wrong, I don't
know if we'll ever get to
where we wanna go.
- Where do you wanna go?
- Well, the Grand Ole Opry.
- Oh you and half of Nashville.
It's like a disease.
- I know it's difficult.
- Difficult, yes, impossible, no.
- [JD] You know somebody
with the Grand Ole Opry?
- There's only one way to
get on the Grand Ole Opry.
You have to make a record.
Then they call you, you
don't have to call them.
- Really?
- Yeah.
You see that guitar over here.
Belonged to Marty Robins,
gave him 10 bucks for it.
Month goes by, his record
comes out, the rest is history.
I wouldn't take 1,000 bucks for that now.
Makes me part of history too.
- Record, huh?
- Yeah, that's right.
It's a demo, that's what
it's called, a demo.
You have to make a demo.
- You think maybe we could.
- Definitely.
You have to make a demo, that's it.
You have to make a demo.
- Kid, give Mr Friedman the dummy.
- What?
- Come on.
Give Mr Friedman the dummy.
- What?
- Come on, give Mr Friedman the dummy.
I'll explain later, come on, come on.
- JD, now wait a minute.
- Come on.
- That's show business, Andy.
(intense music)
- Hey partner, where we gonna get
the money to make that record?
- I don't know but I'll figure out.
- Do you believe that?
(intense music)
- Hey, what's the name of that town where
they have those rodeos?
- Franklin.
(intense music)
- Hey.
- Can I help ya, cowboy?
- Yeah, this is where I sign up?
- This is the place, which event?
- Which one's payin' the most?
- Bull ridin'.
- Bull ridin'.
- Sign here, partner.
(horses neighing)
(intense music)
Good luck, cowboy.
- Thank you.
- Hey JD.
- Hey kid.
I got you a number.
- It's a lucky one.
- Oh yeah, got a good day, huh?
- I don't know JD, it's been a long time.
- Don't be humble with me, champ.
I've seen your belt buckle, remember?
- Being champ in Salt Flat
isn't exactly big time, JD.
Besides, I had to stop
wearin' that buckle.
It's turnin' my belly green.
- You're the one ridin' that
bull, Hurricane, aren't ya?
- Yeah, I reckon.
- Good luck.
- Good luck.
(upbeat music)
- Want some ice cream, kid?
- JD, what's this about
a bull called Hurricane?
- Sure you don't want some ice cream?
- JD.
(intense music)
(mooing)
- It pays the most and we
need the money to make that
record, you were the
champ in Salt Flat, Texas.
- Being champ in Salt Flat,
Texas, I was broke bustin'.
This is a bull ridin'.
- Kid, do you wanna be at
the Grand Ole Opry or not?
- You know I do, JD.
- Well, you're gonna have
to ride this bull, come on.
- [Announcer] And now
ladies and gentlemen,
we move to shoot number
eight, shoot number eight, we
have cowboy number 208, better
known as the Salt Flat Kid.
- Kid, you don't have to do
this if you don't want to.
It's up to you.
- The things I do for our career,
sometimes I don't believe it.
- Alright, let's let her rip.
(intense music)
(jeering)
- [Announcer] Good ride
for the Salt Flat Kid.
But only seven seconds,
not enough to qualify.
(applause)
(soft music)
- I aint got it, old
Hurricane just pounded some
sense into me, I kinda forgot
I was just a country boy.
I thought I could whip
Nashville but it aint gonna be.
Put that dream next to old
Andy and all those guitars
in the hawk shop and forget it.
I'm draggin' ya down, JD.
I'm a loser now, I know that.
You do better on your own.
I'm going back to Texas.
(soft music)
- Ah, my two stars, how are ya?
- We're not so good.
- Did you make your record?
- No, I suspect we're gonna be goin' home.
- Home?
- Yeah.
Say Mr Friedman, could I ask you a favor?
- Sure, asking's cheap.
- I'd like to exchange my guitar for Andy.
- Your guitar but how would you work?
- I don't expect we'll be
doin' much of that anymore.
- No more music.
- No, I guess not.
- You mean you're gonna
give it up just like that?
- Mr Friedman, could I ask ya a favor?
Could I exchange my guitar for Andy?
- Okay, okay, I'll get
ya Andy, I'll get him.
Here's your Andy.
- Here's the guitar.
- Leave me alone with your guitars.
I have enough guitars.
- No that's.
- No buts, go, here.
- Thank you, Mr Friedman.
(soft music)
- Good luck.
(soft music)
- He's right, JD, we're
going back to be an armature
cowboy for the rest of your life.
Just go on back, lead your two man band.
That's what you know best.
Just go on back and stay in your rut.
Back and let some other
foreman kick ya around.
- [Man] Get out of the street!
- Can't trust anything, no way!
I've had it!
I'm tired of bein' a loser,
I'm tired of quitting!
I don't want anymore,
kid, it makes me sick!
You listen to me, you listen good.
I'm gonna try it, you
hear me, I'm gonna try it
and aint nobody gonna
stop me, not even you!
(soft music)
(thunder cracking)
Marcy, show me the entrance.
- Here's the artist's entrance.
- No, inside.
- How about the basement here.
- How do I get in there?
- Here.
- Make note of this, kid.
Have you ever been there?
- Sure.
I picked up my junk there.
- Is there ever a guard?
- Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
- Make a note of that, kid.
You think you can get us in there?
- Sure.
- Give me those wiring
plans, I wanna see 'em again.
- Okay.
- I hope you know what you're doing.
- I know what I'm doin',
just relax, look here.
When we get up here,
you're gonna have to cross
over into here, you got it?
- Yeah.
- Once we get up in here,
there may be a guard
and if there is, you're
gonna have to take him out.
You understand?
- Right.
(rustling)
- We can do it.
Kid, get the coveralls,
what time is is, Marcy?
- 6:45.
- That means we got
just about an hour to
bring it all, let's go.
(intense music)
- Hello Marcy, how you doing?
- Just fine, Clarence, I come over to pick
up a few things from the basement.
- Okay ma'am, you can go in.
- Thank you, Clarence.
(intense music)
(twangy music with lyrics)
(applause)
(chatter)
(applause)
- Ladies and gentlemen, the lights will be
back on in a few minutes,
right now we're gonna
entertain ya, I'm JD Todd
and this is the Salt Flat Kid
but just sit back and relax, hit it, kid.
(guitar music)
♪ I got a song that's country ♪
♪ Just a simple song ♪
♪ If you like the melody,
then you can sing along ♪
♪ Aint no words, just sing out strong ♪
♪ Everybody sing along ♪
♪ La la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la ♪
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ Everybody sing along ♪
(guitar music)
- Oh my, I'm lost.
♪ I am just a country boy ♪
♪ I am proud to be up here ♪
♪ After that long and dusty road ♪
♪ It's been a heavy load I'm singin' ♪
♪ Everybody sing along ♪
♪ Dreamed about this happy day ♪
♪ Thought it'd never come my way ♪
♪ Dreamed about it since I was a boy ♪
♪ But country is my joy I'm singing ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ When I think about it,
it wasn't really bad ♪
♪ It was about the best times
this poor boy ever had ♪
♪ But now I'm singin' country songs ♪
♪ I've finally made it
on my own, everybody ♪
♪ La, la la, la la la, la
la la la la la la la la ♪
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ One more time ♪
♪ When I think about,
it wasn't really bad ♪
♪ It was about the best time
this poor boy ever had ♪
♪ But now I'm singin' country songs ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own, ♪
♪ Everybody, la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la la ♪
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on
my own, one more time ♪
♪ La la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la ♪
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on
my own, one more time ♪
♪ La la la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la la ♪
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own, yes I did ♪
♪ I finally made it on
my own, me and the kid ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(intense music)
(applause)
("Make It On My Own"
by Jesse Turner plays)
(MultiCom Jingle)
("I'd Like to Be in Nashville"
by Jesse Turner plays)
- What are you two doin' now?
You're both fired.
- Fired?
What do you mean fired, we quit!
(horn honking)
Got your clean shirt, JD,
hair is sure lookin' good.
I can't understand how
you stay so calm, JD.
- I never wanna work for
that idiot again, ever, ever!
- I think you're gonna get your wish, JD.
- Well, I'll tell you one thing.
That was our lucky break
getting fired from that job.
- Lucky, how can ya?
- That's right, lucky.
- How can you say that, JD?
Now we've been fired so many
places and so many times
round here well, there ain't
no place to get fired from.
- Good, that's the best
news I've heard yet.
You got a couple bucks on ya.
Here ya go Chuck, keep the change.
Help me with my shirt, kid.
- I understand how you
feel, JD but we could've
used the money.
- We never worried
about money before.
- How could we?
We never had any.
- Come on, Kid.
See ya, Chuck, come on, quit worryin'.
Besides, we got the big concert tonight.
- Ah, come on, JD.
- It's showtime.
(twangy music)
(applause)
- Ya'll havin' fun?
(whispering inaudibly)
Listen, I know all this
dancin' is makin' ya thirsty.
So we're gonna give ya a break
here and wet your whistle
while you listen to those
two ever popular local boys
JD and Salt Fly kid,
so without further ado,
I'd like to introduce that
song writer, singer, picker
and grinner, JD Todd and his
partner the Salt Fly kid.
What, what, don't forget the money.
Andy asked if ya'll really
be generous when the hat
comes around, we'd appreciate it.
(applause)
What are you doin' dancin'
with Cutter's girl?
(twangy music)
♪ You get a line, I'll get a pole ♪
♪ You get a line, I'll get a pole, babe ♪
♪ You get a line, I'll get a pole ♪
♪ We'll go down to the
crawdad, baby, baby, baby ♪
♪ Out comes a man with a
sack on his back, honey ♪
♪ Yonder comes a man with
a sack on his back, babe ♪
♪ Yonder comes a man
with a sack on his back ♪
♪ He's got a crawdads in that sack, baby ♪
♪ Honey, honey, mine ♪
(twangy music)
- [Woman] Get your hands off me,
leave me alone, I'm not going!
(intense music)
- Evenin' boys.
- How much do you reckon
we managed to pick
up off the floor, kid?
- Well, I got about $8
not counting the dimes and pennies.
I reckon I didn't do too bad considering
we only got through about half the song.
- You did better than
me, I only got $7.52.
- We ain't gonna make it
as singers at this rate.
- Ah, it ain't so bad,
we still got our leftover
pay with this, I figure, we
got a little over 80 bucks.
- A pleasant good evening
to you, gentlemen.
- Howdy.
- Hey.
- Tyrone T Sullivan here, at your service.
I don't believe I caught your handle.
- I'm JD Todd and this
here's the Salt Flat Kid.
- The Salt Flat kid, Todd,
I assure you the pleasure
is all mine, gentlemen, my card.
- Nashville.
- You're from Nashville.
- That's right, Nashville.
- Are you in like it says
here, an artist manager?
- You've heard of Mickey
Gilley, Freddie Fender,
the Immortal Marty Robins,
Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn.
- You manage all them folks?
- Each and every one of
those people carry my card.
As a matter of fact, I'm here
on a business arrangement
right now for the great Chett Atkins.
- You reckon you could help us?
- I don't see why not,
I helped them, didn't I?
- Sure would appreciate it.
- Yes sir.
- Well, if I could
settle with that Sheriff,
I could get on the telephone
and arrange with those
great Nashville talents to
help you up the staircase
to the stairs.
- You mean the Grand?
- The Grand Ole Opry, that's right, son.
But there's a matter of say $20, without
that I'm completely helpless.
- Mr Sullivan, would this
help, would this help ya?
- Gentlemen, a wise investment
in an unlimited future.
Now all that remains for
me, come morning is to make
a few strategic phone calls,
some words to the wise
and JD and the Salt Flat
kid will be launched.
- Thanks.
- We appreciate it.
- Todd, Kid, come on
out, believe it or not,
there's no damages reported last night.
I'm gonna give you boys a head start on.
(intense music)
- What happened to Mr Sullivan?
- He paid his fine and left.
- Great.
(rooster crowing)
- Well, here we are folks,
them two superstars,
JD Todd and the Salt Flat
Kid, back from another
successful engagement in the
grits room of the county jail,
Stump, Texas.
- Don't make fun of the
jail, I kinda like it.
- JD, the food's terrible
and you know it.
- You reckon that Tyrone fella
knew what he was talkin' about?
- He did know all them stars.
- How far is it to Nashville?
- Nashville, now it's too far for us.
- Get a map, kid.
- JD, come on.
- Get a map.
- Sit right here.
JD's got another scheme.
Looky there JD, that's over 1,000 miles.
- It aint but that far on the map.
- It's still too far, we shouldn't do it.
- Why, we got the talent
and now we finally
got somebody that's gonna help
us, why shouldn't we do it?
You wanna spend another
night in the county jail?
- I reckon you're right.
No one seems to be
helpin' us here, why not?
Give me that map, I'll
find a way to Nashville.
- Now you're talkin' kid, come on.
- Goodbye smelly honky
tonks and beer bar bosses!
- Goodbye hairy legged women!
- Goodbye lonesome nights!
- Goodbye county jail!
- Goodbye Salt Flat, Texas!
- Nashville, here we come!
(cheering)
(twangy music)
♪ Country is my joy, I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(twangy music)
♪ But now I'm singin' country songs ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(twangy music)
♪ This is a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
- What are you doin', JD, you crazy?
- The sign, kid, read the sign.
- The sign, what sign, where?
The Duck River Speedway, guest
appearance, Mickey Gilley.
Aint that our Mickey
Gilley, Tyrone's friend?
- I think it is.
- Think he'll see us?
- We got the same manager, don't we?
(horns honking)
Watch where you're going!
Are you crazy?
- Yeah.
- He must be going to Speedway.
- I hope he'll see us.
- He'll see us.
I hope old Tyrone called him.
- I'm sure he did, I'm sure he did.
We're on our way, JD.
- Now in Nashville, we're
livin' right, aren't we, kid?
- You bet.
(revving)
You sure this is the
way to the parking lot.
JD, this don't look like
no parking lot to me.
- Just relax.
- Howdy Officer.
- [JD] It sure is dusty, isn't
it, kid, can't see a thing.
- There's a first, ladies and gentlemen,
a pick up truck in a demolition derby.
- JD, we're on the racetrack!
- Well, ladies
and gentlemen, it's time.
- These fellas are crazy kid.
Hang on, we're gettin' out of here.
- [Kid] You bet, watch out.
(yelling)
Watch out, watch out!
They got our fender, JD, oh no.
What are we gonna do now!
These people driving crazy!
We're gettin' out of here, hang on.
I don't think they're
gonna open that gate.
What about Mickey Gilley?
- We'll catch him later when
people aint trying to kill us.
Hang on!
- JD!
(intense music)
♪ I got a whole lot of
things to sing about ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of things to sing ♪
♪ Like I love you and I need you ♪
♪ Every night and day ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of
things I want to do ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of dreams to dream ♪
♪ And I want you here beside
me every step of the way ♪
♪ I was lonely as anyone could ever be ♪
♪ Until you came along,
gave your love to me ♪
♪ And the empty world and
you just walked into ♪
♪ You're still with Sunshine
and music and the song is you ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of
things to sing about ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of things to sing ♪
♪ Like I love you and I need you ♪
♪ Every night and day ♪
♪ I got a whole things I want to do ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of dreams to dream ♪
♪ And I want you here beside
me every step of the way ♪
(twangy music)
(laughing)
- My arms a little heavy.
- Yeah.
- Hard to hold 'em up here.
- Well put 'em around me.
- Do what?
- Put 'em around me, that better?
(laughing)
- What is that choreography?
- Choreographer, yeah.
- What is that?
- Well, I create and teach
dances to other people.
- Ya'll do the same thing?
- She's my business manager.
- Right, she's got the talent
and I've got the brains.
(laughing)
- What do you ladies like to do for fun?
- What do you call fun?
- I don't know.
JD, how far is it to Nashville?
- You girls got a place
to stay in Nashville?
- Yeah, we do.
♪ Like I love you and I need
you every night and day ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of
things I want to do ♪
♪ I got a whole lot of dreams to dream ♪
♪ And I want you here beside
me every step of the way ♪
(twangy music)
- That JD sure is cute.
- We just met him, Sandy.
Don't go rushing into things, as usual.
- All I said was he's cute.
- Kid, I think it's round
up time in Tennessee.
- It's about time.
- Hey!
You cowboys seen two girls?
- Why, what's up?
- Kidnappin', that's what.
Some fool run off with my fiance.
They're not gonna get too far though.
My uncle's got road blocks
up from here to Nashville.
- Road blocks?
- That's right.
My uncle's the Sheriff of Nashville.
He don't take too kindly to kidnapping.
- Kidnapping?
- Why else would she run off?
We supposed to get married next week.
- What do these two girls look like?
- I'll tell you my fiance,
Sandy, she's blonde,
beautiful, real pretty girl,
the other one's a red head.
The one she runs with, kinda looks like
a cock roach or something like that.
Looks like that boy in there's
kinda thick in the head, is he?
- Well in a manner of speaking.
- Yeah, I'll tell you what though.
Now take heart to this, I've
been readin' them science
magazines and they do
medical miracle every day.
Somethin' new come
along, he'll be alright.
- There they go!
- What?
- Those two girls, with
that guy in that car.
Come on, let's help, come on, here we go!
(intense music)
Hurry up, let's go, come on.
- What's the matter?
- [Kid] Sandy, we just met your fiance.
- Fiance, how dare he
call himself her fiance?
Look, Sandy was playing a club in Memphis
and that animal Arthur came
in and took a liking to her.
Well, that's no big deal,
everybody who sees Sandy on
stage takes a liking to her
but Arthur kept coming in
night after night, Sandy
felt sorry for him.
She brings home stray dogs, it's like
living with the Salvation Army.
She wants to save the world, anyway,
Arthur kept pushing
this clunker car on her.
She didn't want it but no Dumbo insisted.
So she took it but believe me,
there were strings attached.
Arthur came down heavy, Sandy
had to marry him or else.
We had to run for our lives.
We had to use the old
clunker car to do it.
- Is that true, Sandy?
- Would I lie to you?
- No, ma'am.
(intense music)
Misery, look at that.
- Uh oh.
- [Sandy] I guess he does have
an uncle that's the Sheriff.
- [Kid] They're lookin' for
someone, I'll bet it's us.
(intense music)
- What seems to be the problem, officer?
- Long haired hippie freaks,
that's what the problem is.
Kidnappers, murderers, stick
up men, thieves, no pushers,
wife stealers, gamblers,
shiesters, lone sharks.
That's the problem, peepin'
toms, panders, falanders,
pot heads, howdy do ma'am,
Texas cowboys and pick up trucks
that oughta be scrapped on, my hate list.
- What list is that, Sheriff?
- My hate list, buster.
Boys lookin' kind of nervous.
I don't reckon either one of
ya's got a driver's license.
- Yeah, right here, here it is, sir.
- Where you boys headin'?
- We're gonna go to Nashville.
- To get on the Grand Ole Opry?
- That's right.
- Yes, sir.
- These your bags?
- Yes sir, that's our bags.
- Texans, if the Indians
were to attack today,
they'd probably take her and
never even fire an arrow.
Why don't you two sweet
things back home on
the range where ya belong?
- Truth is Sheriff, the
Sheriff back home was
wondering why we didn't just move along.
- Right and Nashville came
highly recommended by friend.
- Well, your friend was
wrong, if you picked a guitar
like Roy Clark, sang like
Johnny Cash, looked like
Dolly Parton, you'd still be wrong.
This here town's full of singin' cowboys.
And they're all washin'
cars or fryin' hamburgers
and finger lickin' chicken,
I'm a human polygraph.
You tell me a line, I spot it like that.
A big Whopper or a little
white one, don't make
no difference to me, what'd
you do with the girls?
- To tell you the truth, Sheriff, I can't
remember the last time we
did anything with a girl.
- I don't reckon you can.
Here and get out of my sight, drive it.
Boy, I know times a
changed but I don't believe
the Grand Old Opry is
ready for a couple of
soprano cowboys just
yet, come on, come on.
- I'm gettin' that old feelin', JD.
- What feelin's that kid.
- A hankering to turn around
and get on back home to
Salt Flat, Texas, I believe
this outside world's dangerous.
- I don't remember anybody
tellin' us it was gonna be easy.
(intense music)
Get ready, kid.
(pleasant music)
How ya doin', sir?
- What can I get you?
- I just wanna tell you
about this bad radiator
you get there in the trunk.
- I gotta stop and look
at that.
- Come on, I'll help you.
- Thank you.
- Come on, watch.
- These radiators, you
don't know what to do.
- That's a nice old car,
you take good care of it.
- Well, it's all I got, I have to keep it.
- Yeah, let me show you where it is.
It's leakin' pretty bad
right up under there.
Can you see that with me?
- That's what it is.
- Right there, see that leak?
- Yeah, what the?
- Sir, you oughta look
at the rest of this.
(intense music)
- Thanks for the ride.
- What in the blazes those
two girls doin' here?
- Beats me, I think he got
'em out of your rumble seat.
- My rumble seat?
- Yes sir, I think so.
When's the last time
you looked back there.
- It's been some time, I
have to look at it more.
- I'll tell you what, if I
was you, I'd start lookin'
back there more often.
- Thank you very much.
- Good luck to you, sir, much obliged.
(intense music)
- All clear.
(engine running)
- What's the trouble, old timer?
- Sheriff, I guess you better take me in.
I think I was asleep at the wheel.
I was gettin' along fine,
I think and then the next
thing I know these cowboys came along
and started pullin' girls
out of my rumble seat.
- Texas cowboys.
- That's what the plate said.
- I was the one that got caught nappin'.
(intense music)
(sirens)
- My goodness, what's gonna happen next?
(sirens)
(intense music)
- Hold on!
(intense music)
(train horn honking)
(intense music)
- [Man On Radio] Uncle Calvin,
coming in, Uncle Calvin.
This is Arthur, Uncle Calvin,
come in, Uncle Calvin.
- Yeah, go ahead.
- Uncle Calvin, is it you?
- Who you think it is, Johnny Cash?
- [Man On Radio] Uncle
Calvin, I just wanted to tell
you your hamburger's gettin' cold.
- Not any colder than your brain, you!
- Settle down, Kid, just 22
miles and we'll be home safe.
- Safe, now how do you figure that?
Kidnapping's a serious charge
and we aint in Salt Flat,
Texas, this is Tennessee,
lord knows what they
do to you for kidnapping here.
- Yeah but no one was kidnapped.
- I'm tellin' ya, that
Sheriff back there is mean.
And he don't like Texans,
just some throw us in jail,
throw away the key and then
just hang us out to dry.
- Look, no one was kidnapped,
we came of our own free will.
We're the kidnappees.
- Would ya'll relax?
Just relax.
(sirens)
- Siren, JD, they got us!
- They ain't got us, yet!
Hang on!
(screams)
- I told ya, hurry it up, hurry it up
or we're going back to jail, come on!
(sirens)
- It's only an ambulance.
- We knew it was just an ambulance.
- We're just trickin' ya, hurt your leg?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
(laughing)
What a trick, huh?
(horses neighing)
(intense music)
- Sandy, you know what
I was just thinkin'?
See those horses out there?
35 years, my life's been just like that.
I just run around and round in circles
and I don't ever seem to go anyplace.
- Who does?
- I know that.
But there's gotta be
more to life than that.
It's the reason I left Salt Flat.
- Salt Flat, is that really a place?
- Yeah, that's the only
place that's no place.
- That's where you met
your friend, isn't it?
- Yeah, yeah, he and I
failed third grade together.
At least we do one thing well together.
We play, sing, that makes people happy
and I guess that's what it's all about.
- So now you're off to Nashville
to be a big star, right?
- Being a big star but I really would like
to sing in the Grand Ole Opry,
sing to all those people.
- You think it's possible?
- I'm gonna try real hard.
- Boy, you really have that show biz bone.
- Thanks, what about you?
- There's not much to talk
about, I'm sort of like you,
I'm just lookin' for my place.
- Don't you like bein' a dancer?
- Oh, I like it, it's the only
thing I have to hold onto.
But it gets lonely.
- I can't imagine you getting lonely.
- Well traveling around
from place to place,
workin' late every night,
you don't really get a chance
to meet someone special or
to form a real relationship.
(intense music)
- Hey kid, you got the most
adorable dummy I've ever seen.
- Thank you.
- Where'd you get him?
- Bought him from an old
ventriloquist who's down and out.
- Were you always
interested in show business?
- Well yeah but before JD
and I did a little rodeo,
well JD got hurt and quit
and I just went along.
- I can't imagine what
kind of show business
they have in Salt Flat.
- Well, we had three bars
we played at, the VFW hall.
We played a lot at the boy's gymnasium.
- Scared about going to Nashville?
- Scared, truth is, I haven't
been but about 10 miles
out of Salt Flat and well,
I expect they'll be a lot
more people in Nashville
lookin' at us than
there are the whole city of Salt Flat.
The truth is this is all new to me.
- You're scared.
- Yeah.
Excuse me, hey, we're
ready, let's move 'em out.
(intense music)
♪ No more drivin', no more dust ♪
♪ We made it here before our bus ♪
♪ Made it made to Nashville,
that's where we'll be ♪
♪ Made it to Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
♪ We had a little trouble ♪
♪ We had a little pain ♪
♪ But we don't worry when
we're lookin' for fame ♪
♪ Right here in Nashville,
that's where it will be ♪
♪ Here in Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
♪ Here in Nashville, we
made it to Nashville ♪
♪ We made it to Nashville,
we made it to Nashville, ♪
♪ Nashville, Tennessee ♪
(twangy music)
♪ We gonna boogy, we gonna roll ♪
♪ We gonna sing that country soul ♪
♪ Like doin' Nashville,
that's where we'll be ♪
♪ Here in Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
- Boy, that's somethin'.
- The way that old boy was
dressed.
- Here's where we get out.
- What?
- Can you help me with the
bags, kid?
- Thanks for bein' so sweet,
JD.
- Why do you have to leave?
- We have to.
- I sure would like to
see you again, Sandy.
- I'd like to see you too but right
now we have commitments.
- Thanks kid, please take care of JD.
Good luck, JD.
- Bye kid.
Bye JD.
(slow music)
- Thank you ma'am.
(chatter)
Hey kid, look here.
Marty Robins is in town tonight.
- Our Marty Robins?
- Yeah.
Playin' at the Armadillo
East Club on 32nd and 2nd.
- Tonight?
What are you doing?
- Give me a dime.
- Hey listen,
you get ahold of Marty,
tell him I said hi, okay?
- Hello sir, I'd like to
speak with Mr Marty Robins.
Please sir, JD Todd, he
probably won't know me
but he'll know my manager,
Tyrone T Sullivan, yes sir,
Sullivan, he's Mr Robins manager too.
Pardon me?
Say that again, sir.
You say he'll be there in about an hour.
Listen, would you tell him that JD Todd
and the Salt Flat Kid called, yes sir,
JD Todd and the Salt Flat
kid with Tyrone T Sullivan.
Thank you sir, thank you.
Hurry up, kid, come on, come on.
Is that my hamburger?
Let's go, come on, let's go.
Marty Robins, give me some money, huh?
How much is it, give me
some money, thank you ma'am.
- JD, get the change.
- Don't worry about it, kid.
We in the big time now.
- It's a waste of money now.
- Don't worry about it.
(harmonica music)
Come on, we've arrived, we're here.
Come on, kid, come on, let's go.
Yeah, we got this, come on, baby.
- Marty Robins.
- Howdy.
- [Bouncer] $4 a piece, date's free.
- Four bucks a pop, that's
pretty steep aint it?
- Marty Robins cost money,
somebody's gotta pay.
- Alright, four bucks and that's my date.
- Hey, I like a joke better than most
but I aint laughin' either pay up,
or step back and let these
payin' customers through.
- $4.
(soft twangy music)
- What are we gonna do now, JD?
- Ah, don't worry about it,
I'll think of something.
Hey kid, come here.
Give me that, give me your handkerchief.
- Your nose runnin'?
- Give me the handkerchief, just.
- JD, people can see us.
- Start lickin' your lips.
- Lick my what?
- Lick your lips.
- JD, people out there.
- Come on, lick your lips.
- JD, I aint goin' for this.
- [JD] Now listen, start
pinchin' your cheeks.
- Pinch my cheeks?
- Pinch your cheeks.
Make 'em red, now come on.
- JD, I aint gonna do this.
JD, I'm not gonna do this.
- Come on, pinch your cheeks.
- Ah, come on.
- Lick your lips.
Come on, lick your lips.
- I just told ya that I aint laughin'.
- Can't you take a joke?
- Yeah, sour puss.
- Excuse me.
(twangy music)
- Do you have reservations?
- We're guests of Marty Robins.
- Yes, we have the same manager.
- Tyrone T Sullivan.
- Right this way, gentlemen.
(twangy music)
- What'll you have?
- Beer.
- Two?
- No ma'am, just one.
- Ladies and gentlemen, I
know ya'll came here tonight
to see Marty Robins, we're
gonna do one more song.
And he's gonna be out, here's the song.
(upbeat music)
- Sandy, how are you?
- What are you doin' here?
- We're guests of Mr Marty Robins.
- He's gonna help us out.
- That's so professional.
- Right, old Tyrone finally came through.
- Hey man, Mr Ramsey don't
like intruders, okay?
- These are just friends of ours.
- Excuse me, let me introduce you.
- I have enough friends
already, thank you.
- Okay sucker, move.
(screams)
(intense music)
(yelling)
- What's goin' on in there, any how?
Arthur, come here, I'm
gonna need reinforcements.
Well don't just sit there you
big dummy, come over here.
Raise your right hand and swear.
- Uncle, I can't.
- That's enough.
Now here, take that whistle.
Go on inside, clean out that place.
I'll cover ya from behind.
(whistle blowing)
(screams)
- Let's get out of here!
(whistle blowing)
- Get out of the way, you
never could do nothin' right.
(whistle blowing)
Alright, alright, knock
it off, knock it off!
Knock it off, there they
are, the kidnappers!
(twangy music)
(sirens)
(squealing tires)
Scoot over, scoot over, hurry
up, get goin', get goin'!
- I can't uncle!
- What do you mean,
you can't?
- I aint got the keys.
- Oh.
Get out, quick.
- I can't.
- Oh you stupid.
You're dumber than a box of rocks.
- I'm on your side.
(twangy music)
- Misery, what else could go wrong?
(intense music)
(crashes)
(barking)
(screams)
What are we gonna do now, JD?
- I don't know, don't worry,
I'll think of something.
(barking)
The dog will be gone
in a few minutes, Kid.
(intense music)
(rooster crowing)
- Hey, you two fellas up there.
You want me to call off the dog?
You've been up there about five hours.
I figure that oughta be enough,
unless you were a couple of
them real tough characters.
- No ma'am, we ain't.
- Ma'am, we just
needed a tire real bad.
- We didn't know you lived here.
We figured well, we'll
settle up with ya later.
- Right.
- Well that's mighty sportin' of ya.
Well, how about it, then,
do you wanna come down?
- Yes ma'am, yes ma'am, we sure do.
- Come on down.
- Can we?
- I'm sure no friend of Sheriff Letty.
And I didn't figure you
for a couple of kidnappers
or tire snatchers,
everybody knows that every
junkyard has got a
guard dog and so I'm not
gonna turn ya in until after
you've had your breakfast.
Settle down, fellas, I'm not
gonna have you locked up.
I know what show business is all about.
- You sure know the big ones, ma'am.
- They're all my friends.
- Really?
- Sure, I've seen them
all come to town with
stars in their eyes and
nothin' in their pockets.
- What happens to 'em?
- Sometimes they make
it and sometimes they don't.
- We're gonna make it, we
already got us a manager.
- What junkyard is he rippin' off now?
- No ma'am, he's back in Texas
doin' some work for Chett Atkins.
- And in the meantime, what
are you fellas gonna be doin'?
Snatching tires?
- No ma'am.
- Look, listen to an old lady.
You can't go drivin' through
Nashville in your beat
up old pick up truck and
waltz out onto the stage of
the Grand Ole Opry.
- No ma'am.
We've learned that.
- You got to have experience.
- It seems like we've been
gettin' a lot of that lately.
- You've got to have
more and the right people
have got to see ya and hear ya.
- How would we get to
meet the right people?
- The ones that make it big have an agent
and that's what you fellas need, an agent.
But in the meantime, sit down and let me
get some food ready for ya.
- Thank you ma'am.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
(horn honking)
Can you believe it, we
come 2,000 miles to get
on the Grand Ole Opry and we
can't even get an audition?
- Yeah, well don't worry
about it, I'll figure out
something, come on.
(intense music)
♪ Well I'm tryin' to find me an agent ♪
♪ Yeah, I'm tryin' to sing my song ♪
♪ Nobody here takes
time to hear my music ♪
♪ Oh, I guess I'll keep tryin' on my own ♪
♪ Nobody here knows I can play the piano ♪
♪ Nobody knows I can sing the blues ♪
♪ I've had a lot of them lately ♪
♪ Well, I play guitar, play
harmonica and I boogey ♪
♪ I guess I'll have to make it on my own ♪
♪ What do ya think ♪
(harmonica music)
♪ Sure gettin' tired ♪
(harmonica music)
- I'll tell you Marcy, it's
just one big run around.
We can't get a job without an agent.
We can't get an agent without a job.
- That figures, there's
18,000 fellows in town
each with the same dream
and more comin' every day.
This is the only town in the world where
the mayor's got a recording contract.
- So I guess we still have
the same problem, don't we?
- This is real copper
now, take care of it.
- Yes ma'am.
So what do we do now, Marcy?
- Well the first thing you can do
is help me get out of this place.
- Yes ma'am.
- Give me a hand.
- Watch your step.
- Watch your step.
- Thank you boys.
- So what do you think?
Marcy, what should we do now?
- I just don't know, there
is this one fella that might
help you but no, I aint
gonna put ya through that.
- Why?
- 'Casue I just don't like
him, but probably he is your only chance.
- Could you get us an
appointment with him?
- That old crook owes me a favor.
I'll call him.
- Marcy, we love ya.
Don't we, kid?
- You bet.
(upbeat music)
(chatter)
- I can't deliver the Hardy's,
they're not available.
Okay, okay, sit tight, I'll be back.
- Mr Buffy.
- So you're JD?
You must be the Salt
Flat Kid, sit down, boys.
Some lunch.
- No thank you.
- [Mr Buffy] Bring the boys some coffee.
- No, that's okay.
- Marcy told me
you do a great act.
- Well, we work hard.
- How long you been in Nashville?
- [JD] A couple of days,
we were up in Texas.
- I need about 30 minutes,
you think I could handle it.
- Yeah, you bet we can,
JD's written so many songs,
it'd take us about two hours
to get through 'em all.
- Ned, Big Bob Buffy here
again, two hot out from Texas
just stopped by, I think I can
get 'em to your show tonight.
What, $75, are you kidding.
- We'll take it, Mr Buffy.
We'll take it, we'll take it.
- Quiet.
I couldn't offer 'em that
amount, it would be an insult.
100, well okay, you get them.
(cheering)
Take it easy, it's only a fill in date.
- I'll tell ya, Mr Buffy,
that 100's gonna come in
mighty handy.
- What 100?
What about my commission?
- I'm sorry I forgot.
- What do you think
I'm running here, charity?
I got overhead, I got expenses.
Here's how it works, I get
half, that leaves you with 50.
You have to pay Ned 25.
- Who's Ned?
- He's the manager, now
you got that $50 to me,
$25 to Ned leaves you with
$25, what do ya say, a deal?
- Yes sir.
- Your check sir.
- Thank you JD, that's class.
You can always tell a man by his actions.
It's those little moments
of initiative that make
the difference being
nobody and being somebody.
Let me tell you, JD, you are a somebody.
Hey, it'll be my pleasure to
buy lunch on your big day.
What are you gonna wear, you
got some cowboy rhinestone duds?
- No sir, this is all we have.
- No way, this is a high class club.
My acts have style, you two
had better get yourselves
some better looking clothes
if you wanna work this job.
- Yes sir, we will.
- Here's my card.
You come to the office about six o'clock
and I'll give you the directions, okay.
Now get yourself some nice clothes.
(twangy music)
- What do you figure happened to all these
folks had these guitars?
- I don't know.
Go back to Salt Flat or
some place just like it.
- They got a bunch of
'em, different colors,
shapes and sizes.
(chatter)
- What'd ya got?
- Brooch.
- Rich people don't come in here.
What'd you gotta hawk?
- Somethin' special.
- Betcha aint got one of those.
- What's his name?
- Andy.
- Hey, that's good, but what
am I gonna do with a dummy?
I got enough weirdness around here.
Take a look at that, 20
years ago I bought it.
20 years I'm trying to sell that
and I'll have better luck
with it than with your dummy.
- You mean we can't get any money?
- What am I gonna do with a doll?
- Not a doll, a dummy.
- If you say so, you're a dummy.
- Look sir, we just got our first booking
and we need some money for some clothes.
- Oh, you need clothes, well.
(twangy music)
♪ Don't you know I love you ♪
♪ Doubt everything but
not that I love you ♪
♪ Don't you know how much I care ♪
♪ Simply means how much
whenever you're not here ♪
(pleasant music)
(applause)
(upbeat music)
♪ The country is my joy I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ And now I'm singin' country songs ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
- How much?
- How much?
- Yes sir.
- $750.
- [Both] $750.
- Tax on the end of that.
- That's good,
that's real good, pretty good.
I always thought about takin' art.
I got a little bit of talent.
Let me see now, put some more
sideburns on that little guy.
Yeah, let me see the big
guy one more time now.
I think he had a cowboy hat or something,
maybe, it was a cowboy hat,
yeah, put that on there, good.
That's it, that's it, that
looks good, that's real good.
Hey Uncle Calvin, I think we got it here.
Little guy with the bushy
sideburns, I do remember that.
The big guy had on a cowboy
hat or something like that.
What do you think?
Little guy with the sideburns
and you see the bigger guy.
- Now what would you think if
you was lookin' at an idiot?
- What'd I do now?
- That don't look
anything like 'em, Arthur.
The little one was a lot fatter than that.
And the tall one was skinner.
With that you got the
mustache on the little one
and it was on the big one.
- I didn't draw it, Uncle Calvin.
- You wouldn't know
what you was lookin' at
if you was gazin' in the mirror.
Don't back me, boy, we
gotta catch them cowboys!
Now get back over there and do it again!
Get to work!
(mumbling)
(pleasant music)
(chatter)
(piano music)
(squeaking music)
- Okay, okay, that's enough, okay.
I'll get back to you guys, okay.
- Sure do appreciate it, Mr Buffy.
- Don't mention it, don't
mention it, come here.
Sit down and relax guys.
Take your money from Saturday.
- Mr Buffy, I wonder if we might talk to
you for a minute, sir.
- Yeah, why not?
- Sir, this $25
we're making on the
job is just not enough.
We made more than that back in Salt Flats.
- This aint Salt Flat, it's Nashville.
- Yes sir, I know that but you see, $25
that's just not enough to
live on here in Nashville.
- You guys are all the same.
You come here hungry, few days go by,
you get the wrinkles out of your belly
and then suddenly you're
too good for the club.
- No sir, it's not that,
its just that well,
we don't think it's fair that the club
manager gets half of our pay.
- We want $50 if that's what we earned.
- Nobody tells me how to run my business.
- We're not trying to tell
ya how to run your business.
Mr Buffy, we're not
trying to get personal.
- Not personal, listen
sonny, I'm not gonna let
a second rate cowboy act take me.
- Wait a minute.
- I don't need you.
Acts like you are a dime a dozen.
Yeah that's right, go on,
get outta here, go on.
Get out, get out, get out, go on, go on.
See if you do any better,
see how many agents
will bother with a couple
of armatures from Texas.
Go on, keep movin' you
ingrates, get out of my site.
I don't wanna ever see you guys again.
Don't you ever come crawlin' around here.
Tell Marcy not to ever call me again.
If you take my advice,
you'll stay out of Nashville.
Go on!
Hey you two, come back here.
Come back here for a minute, huh?
Come on, come on.
(intense music)
Stand up, I'm sorry I yelled at you guys.
I got an ulcer, 33 years
of booking these joints.
Believe me, I hate them as much as you.
But that's the only way, they start ya.
You gotta start somewhere, no shortcuts.
I know what I mean, I don't kid myself.
I'm a small time agent.
They go on to pay off the managers.
That's the only way I could get you in.
I mean, pay and play, why do I allow it?
'Cause I dream some day of being someone.
I dream that one day one
of my acts will make it.
Maybe even you, then I'll
get a call and they'll say
Bob, I want you to handle my business.
I'll be talking the big deals
and living the good life.
And that's why I hustle these joints.
'Cause I believe that
one day Big Bob Buffy
will have himself a star.
(intense music)
- Mr Buffy.
- Yes.
- You think we're Armature hour cowboys?
- Do you?
- No sir, I don't.
- Then prove it, work, work.
(intense music)
♪ Playin' piano, doin' a
show, look out Nashville, ♪
♪ Here we go, on the road to Nashville, ♪
♪ That's where we'll be ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee. ♪
(intense music)
♪ Lookin' for me, don't look too far ♪
♪ Find me playin' the old guitar ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
that's where I'll be ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
(harmonica music)
♪ We may be country, we may be poor ♪
♪ But listen up Nashville,
we'll give you more ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
that's where we'll be ♪
♪ On the road to Nashville,
Nashville, Tennessee ♪
(twangy music)
- [Both] Howdy Mr Friedman.
- What is it with you two guys?
One week you bring in the
dummy, a week goes by,
you take the dummy back,
another week goes by
and you bring the dummy
back in, what's goin' on?
- I don't know, it's like whatever we do,
it turns out wrong, I don't
know if we'll ever get to
where we wanna go.
- Where do you wanna go?
- Well, the Grand Ole Opry.
- Oh you and half of Nashville.
It's like a disease.
- I know it's difficult.
- Difficult, yes, impossible, no.
- [JD] You know somebody
with the Grand Ole Opry?
- There's only one way to
get on the Grand Ole Opry.
You have to make a record.
Then they call you, you
don't have to call them.
- Really?
- Yeah.
You see that guitar over here.
Belonged to Marty Robins,
gave him 10 bucks for it.
Month goes by, his record
comes out, the rest is history.
I wouldn't take 1,000 bucks for that now.
Makes me part of history too.
- Record, huh?
- Yeah, that's right.
It's a demo, that's what
it's called, a demo.
You have to make a demo.
- You think maybe we could.
- Definitely.
You have to make a demo, that's it.
You have to make a demo.
- Kid, give Mr Friedman the dummy.
- What?
- Come on.
Give Mr Friedman the dummy.
- What?
- Come on, give Mr Friedman the dummy.
I'll explain later, come on, come on.
- JD, now wait a minute.
- Come on.
- That's show business, Andy.
(intense music)
- Hey partner, where we gonna get
the money to make that record?
- I don't know but I'll figure out.
- Do you believe that?
(intense music)
- Hey, what's the name of that town where
they have those rodeos?
- Franklin.
(intense music)
- Hey.
- Can I help ya, cowboy?
- Yeah, this is where I sign up?
- This is the place, which event?
- Which one's payin' the most?
- Bull ridin'.
- Bull ridin'.
- Sign here, partner.
(horses neighing)
(intense music)
Good luck, cowboy.
- Thank you.
- Hey JD.
- Hey kid.
I got you a number.
- It's a lucky one.
- Oh yeah, got a good day, huh?
- I don't know JD, it's been a long time.
- Don't be humble with me, champ.
I've seen your belt buckle, remember?
- Being champ in Salt Flat
isn't exactly big time, JD.
Besides, I had to stop
wearin' that buckle.
It's turnin' my belly green.
- You're the one ridin' that
bull, Hurricane, aren't ya?
- Yeah, I reckon.
- Good luck.
- Good luck.
(upbeat music)
- Want some ice cream, kid?
- JD, what's this about
a bull called Hurricane?
- Sure you don't want some ice cream?
- JD.
(intense music)
(mooing)
- It pays the most and we
need the money to make that
record, you were the
champ in Salt Flat, Texas.
- Being champ in Salt Flat,
Texas, I was broke bustin'.
This is a bull ridin'.
- Kid, do you wanna be at
the Grand Ole Opry or not?
- You know I do, JD.
- Well, you're gonna have
to ride this bull, come on.
- [Announcer] And now
ladies and gentlemen,
we move to shoot number
eight, shoot number eight, we
have cowboy number 208, better
known as the Salt Flat Kid.
- Kid, you don't have to do
this if you don't want to.
It's up to you.
- The things I do for our career,
sometimes I don't believe it.
- Alright, let's let her rip.
(intense music)
(jeering)
- [Announcer] Good ride
for the Salt Flat Kid.
But only seven seconds,
not enough to qualify.
(applause)
(soft music)
- I aint got it, old
Hurricane just pounded some
sense into me, I kinda forgot
I was just a country boy.
I thought I could whip
Nashville but it aint gonna be.
Put that dream next to old
Andy and all those guitars
in the hawk shop and forget it.
I'm draggin' ya down, JD.
I'm a loser now, I know that.
You do better on your own.
I'm going back to Texas.
(soft music)
- Ah, my two stars, how are ya?
- We're not so good.
- Did you make your record?
- No, I suspect we're gonna be goin' home.
- Home?
- Yeah.
Say Mr Friedman, could I ask you a favor?
- Sure, asking's cheap.
- I'd like to exchange my guitar for Andy.
- Your guitar but how would you work?
- I don't expect we'll be
doin' much of that anymore.
- No more music.
- No, I guess not.
- You mean you're gonna
give it up just like that?
- Mr Friedman, could I ask ya a favor?
Could I exchange my guitar for Andy?
- Okay, okay, I'll get
ya Andy, I'll get him.
Here's your Andy.
- Here's the guitar.
- Leave me alone with your guitars.
I have enough guitars.
- No that's.
- No buts, go, here.
- Thank you, Mr Friedman.
(soft music)
- Good luck.
(soft music)
- He's right, JD, we're
going back to be an armature
cowboy for the rest of your life.
Just go on back, lead your two man band.
That's what you know best.
Just go on back and stay in your rut.
Back and let some other
foreman kick ya around.
- [Man] Get out of the street!
- Can't trust anything, no way!
I've had it!
I'm tired of bein' a loser,
I'm tired of quitting!
I don't want anymore,
kid, it makes me sick!
You listen to me, you listen good.
I'm gonna try it, you
hear me, I'm gonna try it
and aint nobody gonna
stop me, not even you!
(soft music)
(thunder cracking)
Marcy, show me the entrance.
- Here's the artist's entrance.
- No, inside.
- How about the basement here.
- How do I get in there?
- Here.
- Make note of this, kid.
Have you ever been there?
- Sure.
I picked up my junk there.
- Is there ever a guard?
- Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
- Make a note of that, kid.
You think you can get us in there?
- Sure.
- Give me those wiring
plans, I wanna see 'em again.
- Okay.
- I hope you know what you're doing.
- I know what I'm doin',
just relax, look here.
When we get up here,
you're gonna have to cross
over into here, you got it?
- Yeah.
- Once we get up in here,
there may be a guard
and if there is, you're
gonna have to take him out.
You understand?
- Right.
(rustling)
- We can do it.
Kid, get the coveralls,
what time is is, Marcy?
- 6:45.
- That means we got
just about an hour to
bring it all, let's go.
(intense music)
- Hello Marcy, how you doing?
- Just fine, Clarence, I come over to pick
up a few things from the basement.
- Okay ma'am, you can go in.
- Thank you, Clarence.
(intense music)
(twangy music with lyrics)
(applause)
(chatter)
(applause)
- Ladies and gentlemen, the lights will be
back on in a few minutes,
right now we're gonna
entertain ya, I'm JD Todd
and this is the Salt Flat Kid
but just sit back and relax, hit it, kid.
(guitar music)
♪ I got a song that's country ♪
♪ Just a simple song ♪
♪ If you like the melody,
then you can sing along ♪
♪ Aint no words, just sing out strong ♪
♪ Everybody sing along ♪
♪ La la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la ♪
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ Everybody sing along ♪
(guitar music)
- Oh my, I'm lost.
♪ I am just a country boy ♪
♪ I am proud to be up here ♪
♪ After that long and dusty road ♪
♪ It's been a heavy load I'm singin' ♪
♪ Everybody sing along ♪
♪ Dreamed about this happy day ♪
♪ Thought it'd never come my way ♪
♪ Dreamed about it since I was a boy ♪
♪ But country is my joy I'm singing ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ When I think about it,
it wasn't really bad ♪
♪ It was about the best times
this poor boy ever had ♪
♪ But now I'm singin' country songs ♪
♪ I've finally made it
on my own, everybody ♪
♪ La, la la, la la la, la
la la la la la la la la ♪
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
♪ One more time ♪
♪ When I think about,
it wasn't really bad ♪
♪ It was about the best time
this poor boy ever had ♪
♪ But now I'm singin' country songs ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own, ♪
♪ Everybody, la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la la ♪
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on
my own, one more time ♪
♪ La la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la ♪
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on
my own, one more time ♪
♪ La la la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la la ♪
♪ It's just a country song I'm singin' ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own, yes I did ♪
♪ I finally made it on
my own, me and the kid ♪
♪ I finally made it on my own ♪
(intense music)
(applause)
("Make It On My Own"
by Jesse Turner plays)
(MultiCom Jingle)