Chasing the Blues (2017) - full transcript

[blues music]

"Midnight Special"
♪ Yonder comes Miss Rosie
How in the world do you know? ♪

[buzzer]
♪ Well, I know her by the apron
And the dress she wore ♪

♪ Umbrella on her shoulder
Piece of paper in her hand ♪

[keys jingle]

♪ Well, I'm going
And ask the governor... ♪

[man] OK.
[music continues]

[man chuckles] Boy I win.

[steel door closes]

♪ L et the midnight special
Shine a light on me ♪

My life has been drab...



[indistinct chatter]

♪ ...shine a light on me ♪

♪ Let the midnight
special... ♪

[intercom clicks]

Mr. Thomas!

Lincoln Groome.
Thank you for taking my visit.

If you came
all the way from Baton Rouge

I can walk down the hall
to hear you talk.

[Lincoln chuckles]

I work for the Placon County
Department of Public
Administration.

[metallic echoing]

OK.

Now...

Frequently, when a person in our
community in our passes on,



has no close friends
or relatives,

no will and testament,

no expression...
of his or her desires.

So...

it's my job
to investigate their lives

and first of all...

find out
if they have any assets

that can be used
to reimburse the county
for the funeral.

[sniggers]

[uncontrolled laughing]

And if they
have remaining assets...

I make the determination
about their disbursement.

You've got assets,
you want to disperse my way?

[Lincoln] Hmm hmm.

Six weeks ago a man died.

Jumped through
a six story window

with a sheet
tied round his neck!

His name was Ray Walker.

Does that name
mean anything to you?

I think you know
the answer to that question.

[Lincoln] Why,
he didn't leave much behind

and no one came
to claim the body.

Very sad.

But he did have a climate
control storage locker,

filled with old vinyl records...

thousands of them!

Now, I'm a little sketchy
to the terrible tragedy

that led you to be
incarcerated in this facility,
Mr. Thomas?

And I'm not here
to put you on trial again!

Why don't you tell
me why exactly

it is you are here?

OK, now as I was saying...

I am in possession
of this storage locker.

Now as I piece together
the puzzle,

I can deduce that there
was something

in that pile of records
that you wanted!

And I'm here
to ask you the question,

how badly do you still want it?

[jazz music]

[girl sighs]

I can't decide if I want
something sweet or salty?

[music continues]

Maybe you should
get one of each.

Maybe I should...

[wrapper crinkles]

Thanks.

Ever wonder how
you find yourself

in the middle
of frigging nowhere?

[funky guitar music]

♪ My my, won't you
Be my friend ♪

♪ My, my, my
Won't you be my friend ♪

You thinking of selling
my guitar?

I was, but I was going to wait
until you were asleep

to make it less obvious.

Well, you won't get
much for it.

I've had it
since I was 15.

I've been making money with it
since I was 18.

So, you are a musician?

Let me guess, going south

to make all your
dreams come true?

Yeah, something like that.

You play?

No... no, just a fan.

What does that mean?

Just a fan, like of the music?

Or... isn't everybody?
[chuckles]

I used to collect records.

Mmm.

OK, so a...

something like this.

You probably old enough
to remember this one.

[clears throat]

♪ At first I was afraid
I was petrified ♪

♪ Keep thinking
I could never live ♪

♪ Without you by my side ♪

♪ But then I spent
So many nights ♪

♪ Thinking how you do me
wrong ♪

♪ And I grew strong ♪

♪ And I learned how
To get along ♪

[applause]

Oh my god.

Thank you.

I'm Alan.

Vanessa.

[acoustic guitar]

What's like the best record
you've ever had
in your collection?

[radio playing]
[cutlery clinking]

-Best record I've ever had...
-Mmm.

Like... musically,
sentimentally

or most valuable, what?

OK. Different question.

Um...

If you could have
any record in the world...

what would it be?

[Alan exhales]

[Vanessa] What?

OK.

I'm gonna tell you
a really good story.

[acoustic guitar music]

...just give me a holler
whenever you can.

My number is 311-811-25-1

This is where you can get
me.

All right I hope you good,
dude?
[phone clicks]

[phone buzzes]

[phone clicks]

[answering machine]

Oh hey uh, this is Tim
over at Cable Vision.

Is this Alan?

Hey, when I did
your installation
a couple of months back,

you said I should call you
about what I heard about

a place that had, like,
a shitload of records.

There is this lady down
in Hyde park,

this old deaf lady and
um...

she's got like
a fuck load of records...

so... I was thinking,
if you want to head down there
and check it out?

Ah, I believe you
mentioned
a finders fee of some kind,

so I'd love to discuss
that.
But with further...
[music drowns message]

Um...

[blues music]

[music stops]

Now, as that song I got,
the "Prohibition Blues"

demonstrates...

that discontent felt
by regular people

began to make its way
into the music of the time.

[reading lyrics] I am so thirsty
that I'm blue,

old friend blues
I long for you.

I never knew
that I'd miss you...

the way I do... boo hoo.

Boo hoo.

Boo hoo hoo.

[bell rings]

[teacher laughs]

Hey Alan.

I think I know the answer
to this all ready,

because we quickly reaching
a consensus here, right?

If you had to do
a special home tutoring
special session,

with just one student
from the sophomore class,

which one would it be?

If you're implying what
I think you're implying,

I want no part
of this conversation.

We just giving voice
to thoughts we've all had!

Even Ms. Lindsey's had them.

That's sick.

Whoa, not like now!

It's kinda like...

it's kinda like corn futures
you know,

you betting on what

what the crop
will look like in three years.

Huh!

Alan?

It's a mental exercise, Alan.

Fucking buffoons!

[teacher] Maybe it's a boy?

[phone rings]
[Tim speaks indistinctly]

[video game noises]

...start one

Stop one.

Hello.

Oh hi Tim, this is Tim?

This is Alan Thomas,

you called about some records

you found down Hyde Park.

Oh hey, yes... uh.

Just give me a--

I am going to locate
the address in my files here.

[paper rustles]

Yeah, you won't believe
how many records this lady has?

It's like unbelievable.

Hey, you sound as though
you are a little bit older,

are you into
Led Zeppelin at all?

I am more into Lead belly .

Ah, right on!

Absolutely.

[video game sounds]
Yeah, uh... actually who,
what's that?

[car radio music]
[Alan humming]

Lisa! "Back door man",

that's my song right there.

[door chimes]
Put that on...

[wrapper rustles]
[Paul mumbles]

-[buyer] Thanks.
-[Paul] Have a good one, man.

[door chimes]

Hmm,

at it again on a Saturday.

I take it the teacher's
out scavenging again.

The only reason your white arse
is coming to this side of town.

I call it collecting Paul,

unlike what you do.

Besides I was just
in the neighborhood,

visiting a friend.
I thought I'd just pop by

and see what worthless crap

you overcharging for today!

Really?

-It's a fair price.
-[Alan scoffs]

I got something
you might be interested by?

This I got to see.

[exhales]

Mary [indistinct] 1943,

prior to her work with
Specialty Records.

Very rare.

Mmm.

Used to be,

until they found a
stack of others

about a yay high in a Clearwater
warehouse last August.

Find the original sleeve
then we can talk.

This is the people's music,
Teach.

A blues snob
is an oxymoron.

A white Blues snob
is just a moron.

You know what the problem
with your store is, Paul?

Tell me my problem.

If that record
was actually worth anything

you wouldn't want
to sell it to me.

So, any record that
you'd want me to have

is, by definition,
not worth having.

That's the problem
with your store.

But I'm a hell a lot
more honest than you!

Oh really.

What are you really
doing down here today?

Or did you scour the
old obituaries

and find some poor kid
whose old man died

and left him a bunch of shellac!

-Yeah.
-Yeah, you see...

you not a collector,

you a garbage man!

Do you even listen
to all those
records you have?

See, you hate the fact

that you can't feel the music,

so you try own
the music instead!

That's bad
for the soul Teach,

bad for the soul!

Enjoy the [indistinct].

I will!

Because I can
feel that shit!

All this here
I love it because I live it.

[door closes]

[traffic sounds]

[door buzzer]

[old lady] Yeah?

-Yes, Mrs. Walker, my name is--
- Hello?

Um, Mrs. Walker,
I wanted to ask you about the--

Hello? Is anybody there?

Hello?

[door buzzer]

[Mrs. Walker] Hello?

Yes, Hi. Mrs. Walker,
my name is Alan Thomas

I called you earlier
about the--

Shh.

Son, you can't holler
up the stair case.

My mama say, "Nobody so poor,
they can't keep
their voice down."

Yes ma'am.

Sorry 'bout that.
My name is Alan.

Hmm... nice to meet you Alan.

You have got
an honest shake.

-Yeah, how you like this heat?
-Not much.

Not much, yeah.

Um, I can't remember
if I told you

I'm a high school teacher
by day?

Oh a teacher huh.

We had the
nicest teacher live
right downstairs,

a handsome man.

I don't mind telling you
I had a little crush on him,

but that's after
my husband died,
of course.

He was white too.

I mean, the teacher now

not my husband.

Oh lord!

[door opens]

[door closes]

Oh lord...

I am so sorry, Alan.

Well,
welcome to my home,

no lying, no cussing.

[lady grunts]

Oh!

So would you like
some sweet tea?

Alan?

Yes, and...

yes.

Thank you.

[radio playing]

[floorboards creak]

Holy shi--

Shit.

[paper rustling]

[cutlery rattling]
[Alan exhales]

[cutlery rattling]

[floorboards creak]

You look like you just caught

sight of the devil
in a bathrobe.

[laughs]

May I use your bathroom?

Yes.

It's here,
second door to the left.

I put your sweet tea over here.

OK, thank you so much.

[floorboards creaking]

[whispers] Oh my god!

Oh my god.

[Alan] August 1938.

A Mississippi cook named
Jimmy Kane Baldwin

walks into the Chicago
offices
of Cicero Records

and demands an audition.

He has no money
and only three fingers

on his fret hand.

But, Cicero had already
made
an improbable start

with two other walk-ins.

So Martin Pounder,
the sound engineer

decides to let him play
a few bars there
in the lobby.

Just for kicks.

He doesn't let him pick
around
for more than half a minute,

before he brings in
Irving Dunn,

the infamous founder
and president of
Cicero Records.

See what you got, Kid?

Pounder would later say
he had goosebumps that day.

"This what it must have
been
like to discover Robert Johnson

or Sun House," he said.

He recorded Jimmy
that very afternoon.

Dunn wanted to release
the record

before the summer was out.

He was already on the
phone
boasting about
his latest discovery

while Pounder arranged
things
in the studio,

with a couple of Cicero
regulars
called in, to back Jimmy up

on piano and horn.

Jimmy was in a hurry too.

See, what Jimmy
hadn't told anybody

was the reason he traveled

all the way to Chicago
to cut this record,

was that he was
a wanted man

in Lafayette County,
Mississippi.

[Vanessa] For what?

For murder of his girlfriend,
Betty Sharper.

Stabbed her
in the chest 37 times
with a boning knife.

Damn!

Jimmy and the studio band
played their song four times,

and Marvin thought that
even the first take
was acceptable.

He wrote "Death Take One"
on the first.

On the others, he wrote
"Death Take Two"

"Death Take Three"

and "Death Take four".

Jimmy was itching to leave

but Irving Dunn
was taking his time,

pulling the cash from his
safe

or the bank or wherever
he needed to get it.

So Jimmy stuck around
and listened,

as Marvin played back
"Death where is thy sting"

for the first time.

And that's when things
get spooky.

The screams began
at the end of the first verse

like she was joining in
early
for the chorus.

Jimmy became agitated

while the Cicero man
searched
for the origins of the sound.

Marvin still
couldn't hear anything,

so he brings in
Dunn and the receptionist,

who was just about
out of theories,

When Jimmy suddenly
began to whisper

[Jimmy] Betty, Betty, Betty.

Marvin asked who Betty
was?

but Jimmy kept repeating:
Betty, Betty, Betty.

You are a damn witch.

Marvin sent for
Chesterfields
and whiskey

to calm Jimmy Kane down.

But he wouldn't have any
of it,

and he lunged
for one of the masters

and he smashed it!

Then he ran out
on Cicero Avenue.

As far as Blues
aficionados
are concerned

that is the last time
anyone saw Jimmy Kane Baldwin.

[Vanessa] How come some
people
could hear and others couldn't?

The legend is that
only people

with murder in their hearts,

can hear
Betty Sharper dying.

And what about the other copies?

The other takes?

The secretary...

who Irving had done
with sleeping with...

by the way,

told him that he could
never release those recordings.

And she heard the devil
on that disc.

So Dunne, who never believed
any of it

told Marvin Pounder
the record was unreleasable.

So Marvin kept the best tape
for himself

and gave the other two
masters to the musicians...

as a memento of

the oddest, eeriest day
of their professional lives.

And?

Within a week...

the piano player and the bugler
were both dead.

One went from
too much morphine...

the other jumped
from a roof onto State Street.

[loud thud then screams]
[car alarm sounding]

Marvin thought
it was the record
that drove them mad.

He was sure they'd
listened to the recording

again and again

until it made them crazy
and destroyed them.

So Marvin smashed his copy
into a million pieces.

[smashing]

And then
there were two copies left!

Pounder tried to
track down the other copies

but the musicians said
they had no idea what he was
talking about.

What like, lost forever?

[cup clatters]

It's a myth!

According to most people.

Nonsense.

Just a tall tale
made up by Marvin Pounder.

So what makes you
a believer then?

I believe it because...

I once held
that record in my hands.

[Alan exhales]

[floorboards creaking]

Well!

Ah...

these kinds of records,

you know, aren't really worth
much anymore.

Everything switching over
to compact discs.

The sound of CD's
is so much better digital.

Digital is the... future.

You know it feels like...

[chuckles]

you in the room
with the musicians.

It's incredible!

Plus, uh...

I hear the CD's...

they'll last forever.

Yeah, a hundred years
from now...

still have the... same CD's
you buy today.

So!

-Don't sit on the arm!
-Sorry.

Let me tell you...

those records
belonged to my husband.

I watch TV now.

OK, I got my stories.

I look at Falcon Crest
and Matlock,

I love 227 and Amen.

[laughs] My girlfriend
she looks at LA Law,

but they have
too much sex for me,

I don't think that's normal.

You know, I could take them
off your hands for ya.

That is if you wanted...

Mrs. Walker?

You know, it will really open
this room up

and... let the light in.

Oh, the light is fine
with me.

Yeah... you need more light?

No, the light is fine,

the light is--
lovely light.

You OK.

I kinda like you.

-You like me?
-I kinda like you. [laughs]

I kinda like you!

[Mrs. Walker chuckles]

Listen... if it was up to me

I would have you take

every one of those things
out of here.

Right now...really.

But...

I've got to check
with my son first

cause I can't get rid of

none of his daddy's things,
without going through him.

-You understand?
-Of course.

Right.

Now my son Raymond,

he lives right outside
of Baton Rouge.

Placamin...

Louisiana.

So listen I'll call him tonight.

[sighs]

Just come back tomorrow...

OK?

-Tomorrow?
-Tomorrow.

-I can come back tomorrow
-OK.

-OK.
-All right.

[Mrs. Walker laughs]

[inhales sharply]

[mumbles in hushed voice]

[phone rings]

In a little
old lady's apartment.

Bullshit!

I'm calling bullshit.

-Call that bullshit Daddy...
-Shut it, arse wipe.

You're just going
batshit crazy

in that Chicago humility,
that's all.

No... no, no, no.

No I am not!

Jimmy Kane Baldwin
"Death where is thy Sting"

was in his very grips,
just today, man

I'm telling you!

[Dan chuckles] OK.
So what it sound like?

I'll tell you what,

I'll make you a bet.

This time tomorrow...

I will play you

"Death where is thy Sting?"
over this very phone.

You'll be [indistinct].

[blues music]

[phone clicks]

Fuck me.

[gospel Capella]

[door handle clicks]

[floorboards creak]

[faint laughing]

[Alan knocking]

[door unlocking]

Alan!

Is it hot enough for you?

[whispers] I've got a surprise.

We've got a new friend!

Mmm hmm.

Paul this my new friend, Alan.

[ice clinks]

Hi Alan.

Yeah.

Alan...

Paul...

likes old records too.

How about that?

-You don't say.
-Yeah!

He has that record shop
right around the corner...

you know?

We were just talking.

I told him how nice
this neighborhood has gotten,

since Mayor Washington
is in office.

-Right?
-Hallelujah.

Yeah, yeah.

You know what?

I forgot to get your sweet tea,

just one minute.

-Oh yeah.
-yeah.

-Thank you for that.
-OK.

[whispers] What you
doing here?

I knew you were
up to something.

I'm not up to anything!

I got a call from
Diamond Dog Dan the other day,

he told me
you found some good records!

-Oh, the arsehole.
-I agree.

Bad.

So... after you parked
across from the store,

I followed you.

And after you left,

I called on
Mrs. Walker myself.

She's a lovely lady.

Although she's not
entirely loco.

[laughs] If you get
my drift?

And I think that you do,

because you were here

trying to steal all these
beautiful records from her.

From me... from my community.

What are you talking about?
I'm not stealing anything.

And from you? What's that about?

You want to own all the
records in Hyde Park now?

What.. not that community!

My community,

the black community!

Oh my god!
The black community!

Are you kidding me?

Are you finished?

Yeah, I guess.

See, that's
what I'm talking about.

White people trying
to come in, after the fact

and steal
the intellectual property

of black people.

Taking advantage
of the circumstances.

trying to possess
what they can't create!

What you trying to do
to this woman,

it's a fucking metaphor,
is what it is.

I'll tell you something--

Oh here Alan, here's
your sweet tea.

-Oh yes, thank you.
-Yes.

-Thank you.
-All right.

-Oh, I forgot the Milano's.
-[Paul] Oh no!

And I love...

-Pepper--
-Oh yes!

-You too?
-Oh, I love them.

Oh, I've got some for you.

-All right.
-Hold on, let me find them.

[floorboards creak]

OK.

I take your point.

I didn't come here for a fight.

There are plenty of records
for both of us,

and besides, she hasn't even
actually given me permission
to take them yet.

-She's got to talk to the son.
-Exactly.

She'll talk to the son,

we'll split them 50/50.

All right.

I get to pick the first one
and you can pick the next five.

That is not
going to work for me.

You son of a bitch.

Jimmy Kane fucking Baldwin
"Death where is thy Sting".

You are not taking
that record from me Teach!

So help me
in the name of the Lord above.

You wouldn't even know
it was here if
Dan hadn't ratted me out.

-You are a poacher!
-You are a parasite--

[Mrs. Walker]
The other Milano!

-Aha.
-[Paul and Alan chuckle]

Whew. [farts]

[knocking on door]

-[man] Mrs. Walker.
-[Mrs. Walker sighs]

Mr. Epstein, hello.

Someone at the door.

Oh!

That's my landlord.

Ah, baby, could you be a dear

go open the door
for me, please, Alan.

That's you.

Yes I know.

Get the door boy.

The fucking door.

Ah Mr. Epstein,

what a pleasant surprise!

Yes.

These two nice young
gentlemen are my new guests.

We waiting for a call
from Raymond

and you know Raymond.

Yeah.

We were about to sit down

and have some
sweet tea and Milano's.

You had better come
and join us.

No thank you.

Heat advisory issued,

checking to
make sure you okay.

Oh...

I bought you a new flashlight

in case there is
another blackout.

[groans]

Alan, please take
the flashlight.

Yes... well...

you are a minch.

[laughs]

Listen, as long
as the air conditioning

holds out in my bedroom

I'll hold on.

OK!

Yes,

and they say dimming the
light and drawing the blinds

helps with the heat.

let me know
if you need anything?

You got my number.

You know I got your number.

But I've these two young men
who'll look after me, right?

That's right.

Yeah.

[laughs]

-Bye Mrs. Walker.
-Oh goodbye Mr. Epstein.

You take care.
Thank you.

Oh eh...I almost forgot.

I spoke to Raymond last night...

I told him about you two

and the records.

And he started
bringing up stories

about him and the father.

He was getting so upset
I told me to go to sleep.

Call me tomorrow.

So...

it looks like you might have
to come back tomorrow,

if that's not a problem?

No, it's not a problem for me.

Great.

It'll be like a party.

Mmm.

[all laugh]

Oh, you two are crazy!

[Mrs. Walker continues laughing]

May I use your restroom?

Oh...

of course,
you know where it is.

Yeah.

[Mrs. Walker chuckles]

[laughs]

[sighs]

[groans]

[groans again]

[creaking]

[inhales]

[snoring]

[paper rustling]

[exhales]

Oh shit!

What the fuck?

Well Teach...

it looks like you and I
face a similar dilemma.

You know if I wasn't here
you'd take this record and run.

But I am here,

and I'm standing over you.

You know, that old lady
wouldn't even miss it.

You'd probably even leave
ten bucks on the table

to assuage your white guilt.

Get up!

[paper rustles]

Not ideal but we can share it.

And how would
that arrangement work exactly?

Do we shuttle
the record back and forth

between apartments like
a toddler trapped

between parents
in a nasty divorce.

Oh, I got it.

Maybe we can meet at the
Rock 'n Roll McDonalds
one Saturday

to make the transfer.

I am just thinking
out loud here.

You don't have to think out loud

because I know
what you thinking.

I know who you are, Teach!

You don't collect something
just to possess it.

You collect to keep
other people from having it.

A good record
is like a woman, right!

It's only worth having
if it's yours alone!

And you said the other day,

any record I want you to have
is not worth having.

Well...

I don't want you
to have this one.

And the only real pleasure
you would really get

out of owning
"Death where is Thy Sting"

is because I will
envy you for it.

[snoring]

So?

I guess that means
we better get comfortable.

[acoustic guitar music]

[softly] Alan?

Alan?

[Vanessa groans]

Hey!

Yeah, um...

I think, like, we are in
Kansas or something?

Tennessee whatever.

Yeah, he said um... we should be
making it on time.

So...

Uh huh.

Yeah!

Yeah, no problems really.

Yeah, I got it.

Love you,
talk to you soon.

Goodbye.

Those fucking cell phones

changed everything, didn't they?

[Vanessa] Jesus!

I thought you were asleep?

I was...

for a while.

Call that the study hall snooze.

Old trick I developed
teaching high school.

It's half restful, but...

also helps to know
what you students will do

when they think
you're not looking.

I bet that would be
a handy skill

to have in prison too, huh?

I suppose.

Excuse me.

♪ How all of my dreams ♪

♪ How they gonna tell on me
♪

♪ How all of my dreams ♪

♪ How they gonna tell on me
♪

♪ And I don't want ♪

♪ I don't want
To sleep tonight ♪

♪ And I don't want ♪

♪ I don't want
To sleep tonight ♪

♪ All right ♪

[music continues]

[music ends]

[snoring]

Uncomfortable?

Why don't you take another piss?

I'll keep an eye on things.

Yeah, right!

Why don't you just go home?

I'm just fine, thank you.

[knocking on door]

Mrs. Walker?

Mrs. Walker?
It's Mr. Epstein.

The heat looks like
it's going to get worse.

I'm headed for the store,
if you need anything?

[woman groans in her sleep]

[knocking on door]

[sighs]

[Alan] Shit,
I got to call in sick.

[Paul laughs]

That's the beauty
of being self-employed.

I got a sign on my building
that says,
'Back in five minutes,'

but you can stand in for me.

In fact, it gives me a distinct
advantage I'd say!

Oh yeah! There's no one
who would care
if you just disappeared?

[hums]

[paper rustling]

[Alan] Hi. Yes, this Mr. Thomas

I won't be able...
[indistinct]

Terrible...[indistinct]
[paper rustling loudly]

...I don't know...
heat stroke or dehydration.

I'm really parched right now.

Ssh ssh!

[Alan] ...my throat is so sore,
and...

[Alan continues speaking]

[Alan] ...thank you
so much for that.

[Alan] OK, thank you.

What you doing?

Just admiring.

No you not.

You son of a bitch.

That's a good record
right there.

"99 Blues" by Blind Joe Reynolds

Flip side: "Cold Woman Blues".

But even you will admit,
it's extremely rare!

[laughs] If we hadn't found
Jimmy Kane,

we probably be
fighting over this one.

It's worth thousands, I bet.

A wholesome Mr. Salary.

Take it right now and go.
She'll never know.

-I won't say a word.
-Shut up.

-Mmm.
-Shut up!

[whispering] First off,

we didn't find it,
I found it.

And second... fuck you, Paul!

Which, which
we came all the way...

That's the best offer
you gonna get, Teach

because I can outlast you.

The second you go to sleep
or the commode

me and Jimmy Kane
are out of here.

I'll call the cops.

They'll come to your store

arrest you for theft!

Oh really?

Because I'll deny it.

Nobody else even believes
the record is real.

The old lady doesn't
even know she has it.

How can I be arrested for
something that doesn't exist?

Oh, you!

You'll never be able to sell it,
not as long as I live.

Who says
I want to sell it?

Maybe I just want
to keep you from having it.

-Shit.
-Yeah

Actually no.

Piss!

I haven't peed
in a day and a half, so...

if you will excuse me.

[chuckles]

[snoring]

What are you doing?

You put them
back on the shelves!

I know you did.

I'll just go through them.

I'll pull them out,
one by one.

Then go ahead.
[chuckles]

Ah.

Uhh...

that's so good
when it comes out.

Hmm.

Hmm!

Whoa!

I guess I must have
dozed off there, huh?

Oh my goodness,

it's still hot!

[sighs]

Would you boys like
some more sweet tea?

No--

I'd love some.

OK.

What do I have refreshing?

Why don't you
let me help you.

Yes, thank you darling.

It's hotter than
a pig's balls...

in a mud bath!

[Paul laughs]

Here you go.

Why don't you try this,
this might help?

-Oh...
-It's cold.

You're taking care of me, huh.

It's somewhere
in here.

[Mrs. Walker groans]

You are something.
Thank you darling. Thank you.

[zipper opens]

[Alan urinating]

[groans]

That's disgusting.

Go ahead Paul,

take the record now,
I dare ya!

[Mrs. Walker] Alan!

-[Alan] Hmm?
-Come over here and join us.

Oh, just enjoying your view.

Oh.

-Oh yes.
-[Alan continues urinating]

This is a fine neighborhood.

We've been lucky.

You know you can
choose your home

Boy, you can't choose
your neighbors.

-[laughs]
-[Paul] No you can't.

Ah ah.

[Mrs. Walker] Woo!

What are my pillows doing there?

Pick those up for me honey.

You pick those up.

Oh!

Yeah.

Take those off.

This one too.

That one too.

[instrumental music]

So what the hell does your black
music lily white arse do,

to get thrown in prison?

What you talking about?

Oh.

You have numbers on the jacket

and Calvin Klein jeans.

So?

That along with the fact
you have no phone

and no iPad,

tells me that
you have been out...

out of circulation
for a little while.

Or maybe I'm
an unfashionable Luddite!

Hmm.

I mean, it's no big deal,

my old man's in the joint,
so um...

I'm on my way
to see him actually.

And...

I dunno,
you've just got that look.

-I look like that?
-A little bit.

Little bit.

[chuckles]

Doesn't matter
because I didn't do it.

Do what?

What they said I did.

[all laughing]

Well...

everything is
just delicious, Mrs. Walker.

-Oh.
-Just delicious.

Thank you.

[whispers] Kiss arse!

[Alan speaks loudly]
What was that Paul?

I didn't quite catch that?

Were you implying
that the food

that Mrs. Walker made for us
is not delicious?

No...

in fact...

this is the best baby
beef liver casserole

I have ever had.

[Mrs. Walker chuckling]

You put your foot into this.

I know for a fact
that this the best

baby beef liver beef casserole
you've ever had,

because it's the only

baby beef liver casserole
you've ever had!

[Mrs. Walker]
Now boys. [chuckling]

You two...

have so much in common,

you could be brothers.

If I close my eyes!

[all laugh]

Unlike Howard and his brother,

they were the
complete opposite.

Except...

they both loved music.

Oh god, Howard...
Howard used to say...

music...

is the language
of the world.

Hmm.

Yes!

My brother in law,
he could play...

oh my god,
he played the trumpet.

He used to call himself
The Buglar!

[chuckling]

He's over there

on a lot of those records

that they
used to record at Cicero.

Mmm hmm.

Yeah and I...

just hate to tell you this part,
but...

mmm!

My brother in law...

he um... got a taste...

for the devil's candy.

They said, he killed himself.

But Howard never believed it.

He said, no matter how bad

his brother was,
he would never have done
nothing like that.

It's very sad.

[groans]

[Mrs. Walker sighs]

Now, what I get up for?

Oh!

Sweet tea.

[groans]

OK...

I know you want some more

Oh yeah.

[Mrs. Walker chuckles]

Nothing like a home cooked meal.

Ohh.

Yes.

Eat up!

A buglar!

The trumpet player
and the recording...

that's her brother in law!

Holy shit!
It's the real thing.

No shit it's the real thing.

If it was a fake,

I would have let you
walk out with it,

and I would not be on day three
and no sleep, would I?

Like you would even know a fake,
if you saw it.

I mean, I knew it was real.

But it's just hitting me now.

[laughs]

Well...

what are we going to do?

Because...

I'm pretty sure
she's even not called her son.

I think she likes
having us here.

So, what's the solution,
because

I-- I can't keep this up,

I can't keep doing this?

Exactly.

[laughing on TV]

Jesus!

What?

I can't believe that
we haven't even tried it?

Tried what?

The record.

All this craziness,
all this fighting.

This heat!

We haven't even tried
to listen to it, yet.

[both laugh]

-[Paul exhales]
-[Alan chuckles]

That means I'll have to
get the record off the shelf?

That would be a logical
next step in listening to it.

Turn around and I'll get it.

I'm not turning around.

What the hell
difference does it make?

I was just such
a good hiding spot.

Dammit... [mumbles]

[sighs]

[laughing on TV]

Ahh.

Fuck me.

Ssh.

Ssh.

It was so easy.

-Careful.
-Ssh!

Are you worried about it,
at all?

About screams and shit?

I don't know if I believe in it?

Makes for a good story.

Some people hearing it,
some people not.

It's possible, you know.

I mean, you can hear it

freak out and
jump out that window,

while I don't hear a thing,
sit back

-with a pot of Mrs. Walkers tea.
-[Mrs. Walker snoring]

Or vice versa!

What's the fuck
wrong with you?

Ssh, ssh, ssh. Wait!

[Mrs. Walker groans]

There is no needle,

The stylus, it's broken.

You'll ruin it.

-Damn!
-Phew!

Oh my god.

[soft laid back music]

So, what exactly are you doing

about Baton Rouge anyway?

Remember that Jimmy Kane Baldwin
record I was telling you?

Mm hmm.

I'm going to
Louisiana to get it.

You're taking a bus
all the way to Louisiana

for a record?

It looks that way, doesn't it.

I just--

You just got out of jail

and... you're...

just going for a record,
I don't--

That's weird?

Have you got
any better ideas?

Yeah, like five or six.

I mean what,
do you have a girl

over there or something?

Ya, is she there?

I saw it.

The guy who wants
to sell to me...

will only do it in person.

He's down there.

Hey, how long
were you in the tank?

Long enough to know
I don't want to talk about it.

Can I ask you one more question?

You can ask...

but, I'm pretty sure,
if it's about prison...

I won't have much to say.

Why?

Because there's really
nothing to talk about.

Did it change you?

Change me how?

I don't know.

It's like in prison...

it makes you turn into the guy
the system thinks you are.

What I mean is you said

that you didn't do the thing.

The thing
they put you in prison for.

That's right.

Could you do it, now?

I hope not.

Here's an idea.

Teach?

Teach?

Oh!
God dammit!

-Are you going somewhere?
-Are you a Ninja?

Yes!

Listen!

I've got to listen to this.

Screaming or no screaming.

No.

Well come with me.

To the store.

Are you crazy?

The temperature must be
up to a 100 right now!

So what.

This is Jimmy Kane Baldwin.

[snoring]

What about Mrs. Walker?

We'll wedge open a door!

Borrow a key!

We'll be back
before she wakes up.

[loud explosion]
Shit!

[dog barks]

What's that?

Something exploded.

[dog barking]
[snoring]

Yes... thank you.

It must have been
a generator.

We'll go to Blues Island,

we listen,
we come back.

You want to hear this
as much as I do.

[snoring]

We listen once...

once...

We listen once.

What's this for?

Put it in the door, stupid.

Try not to get your sweat
all over with the shellac.

Hey?

Hey, shellac this.

[laughs]

You son of a bitch.

You mother fucker.

You can't keep up with me--

[explosion]

[car alarms wailing]

Oh?

[Paul moans]

[dogs barking]
[car alarms continue wailing]

[Alan] Ah shit.

[Alan groans]

Betis?

Hey? Betis?

Paul?

What the fuck, bro?

Are you all right?

I was until I saw you were
about to eat my face.

I'm going back
to the apartment.

I'm waiting for
Mrs. Walker to wake up.

If one of us is leaving
with this record,

We gotta do it
with some goddam self-respect.

I'm trying to
listen to you, bro

but all I can smell
is baby beef liver casserole.

[Alan groans]

[Paul moans]

Oh shit.

Damn car alarms!

Oh!

[door opens]

Grab that flashlight.

[moans]

What the hell are you doing?

I can't take it anymore

I've got to some
air on my balls.

Whatever, dude.

-Wait.
-What?

-Do you hear that?
-What?

She's stopped snoring.

She never stops snoring?

She's awake.

She's moving around
in the dark.

Ssh, ssh, ssh.

[floorboards creaking]

She's not in here.

What should we do.
Should we check her bedroom?

No!

What if she she's not OK?

Exactly! What if?

Shit.

[floor boards creak]

This is fucked up.

[door squeaks]

Oh shit!

Holy god.

Oh!

She's bleeding,
from her head or something.

-Oh shit.
-Huh!

Oh my god.

Is she dead?

Oh my god,
how did this happen?

[Paul sighs]

Oh! The heat!

She had so much sweet tea...

she had to piss.

But it didn't help?

She was calling for you and

you ditched her,
because you didn't trust me

to listen
to the album by myself.

So you decided
to leave her alone.

She got disorientated
from the blackout

and fainted from
calling for you.

And she fell over,

straight off her feet

and busted her head
on that table over there.

Nice try Magnum PI,

but this was wasn't my fault.

I'm just saying.

Maybe you killed her!

What, me , when?

When I was asleep!

You weren't asleep!

When I was asleep

you came in here and killed her

and then you were going to
make off with the record

and leave me to
clean up the mess.

What!

Maybe you were even going
to call the cops
and frame me for it, huh!

That's ridiculous.

You put this shit down.

Well, we'll just have to wait
to see what the autopsy says?

What!

Wait, wait, wait.
We can't call the cops!

We have to, she's dead!

This looks very bad!

For both of us!

We didn't kill her.

Er, it was an accident,
she died.

But, how's this going
to look to the people

who... don't know
what this record means?

What it represents?

We've been in her house
for four days, Teach.

-Sssh.
-Out of touch with our friends,

family, co-workers...

Mr. Asian.
He heard on our bullshit story.

They gonna say,
it's about the money!

And once
they get that in their heads,

they gonna call it murder.

You can put
that in the bank.

I mean,
we can't tell anyone

why we are here.

Fuck you, Ray!

No-one can ever know
about the record,

it's far too valuable.

It's a fucking motive,
is what it is.

All right.

We gonna go, we gonna go
right now.

We gonna call the police

from a pay phone.

We going go home and
we'll never speak of this again.

Who keeps the record?

The record stays here!

Bullshit! We can't leave
that record behind.

We'll never get the chance
to listen to it, if we do that.

This is a once in a lifetime
chance, Teach.

Well, we can't
just leave her here,

she's going to start to smell.

Let's take her
to the bathtub.

Ever done this before?

Yeah.

We trained as little black boys,

how to cover up
someone's death.

Grab her feet!

Why do I
have to grab her feet?

You by her feet,
you grab her feet.

I don't do feet.

-I had a bad--
-What?

...with a good--

Look, I don't want
to talk about it!

Find the feet.

For the record,
I don't like feet either!

I called first. Fuck you.

Oh!

-Shit!
-What happened, what happened?

She's only got one leg!

Oh, damn!

Jesus!

Turn.

-Turn.
-Which way?

To my right.

-To your right?
-Yeah.

All right, come on.

We going to need
some ice to pack her in.

Oh sure.

We'll just go door to door
collecting ice,

on the hottest day
in the history of mankind.

Well, we gotta do something.

-You ready?
-What?

Watch your head.

-OK, let's go.
-OK.

Oh shit!

I said, watch your head.

[both groaning]

[heavy breathing]

We can fill the tub with water.

Why would we do that?

Contain the smell.

Make it looked like she drowned.

What?

Hallelujah.

Are you serious right now?

[Alan sighing]

Thank you, for letting
me be a part

of your personal
grooming moment.

By the way, feel free

to put your pants back on
at any time.

Oh, oh, oh! yes.

Thank you, Mrs. Walker.

What's that?

Activater.

What's activater?

It's like, it's like mouse
for black people.

Oh.

Jesus.

OK, well, maybe we can just
spray perfume and air freshener

all over the place
and that will mask the smell.

Fine.

I'll go find the air freshener,

you stay here and
find the perfume.

Whoa!
I'm not leaving you alone.

See, your problem is,
you don't trust me

because I'm black.

There's some deep
physiological issues.

I don't trust you
because you are you.

If you don't get your
hands off my--

He touched his balls with this!

Why does the record
mean so fucking much to us?

What?

Paul...

how did we get here?

Think about it.

Why is that record so
important, anyway?

That poor women is dead.

We can't even
do the right thing.

We can't call the police.

We can't call an ambulance.

[sighs] I can't explain
how that record...

that allegedly cursed by the
devil record,

which I haven't even heard yet,

made me do
something as crazy

as moving into a doddering old
stranger's apartment.

I can't explain why?

I haven't slept.

Why, I've dropped out
of my life entirely.

And I'm not even over yet.

I mean, there's a body
in the bathtub.

There's a body in the bathtub.

And I can't stop thing
about that goddam record.

[knocking on door]

[Mr. Epstein] Mrs. Walker?

Mrs. Walker.
Just a well-being check,

making sure you OK.

Mrs. Walker?

Those gentlemen
from the yesterday...

friends of your son.

Are they still here?

[keys jingling]

Mrs. Walker?

Mrs. Walker,
this is Mr. Epstein!

[sniffs]

What is that odor Mrs.
Walker?

And why is your door
chained?

[floor boards creaking]

[door closes]

Well!

They'll be coming now...

the cops I imagine.

Yeah, we can't wait forever.

All right.

What do we do?

Do we stay here
and try and explain it to them?

Or do we make a run for it?

-Behind the back stairs...
-Yeah.

...through the alley
and hope nobody sees us.

I'll be right back.

OK.

Wait, where you going?

Hey, you know what
I was thinking?

[both shouting]

[light guitar blues]

[Alan] Wait, wait, wait.

You feel that?
That's the blues!

-[Alan choking]
-Take this!

-Take it! [grunting]
-[Alan choking]

[police sirens wailing]

[music ends]

[police radio chatter]

[acoustic guitar plays]

[Bus driver]
Welcome to Baton Rouge, folks.

Triple Trailways, 1359
has concluded.

For those of you
continuing on to Placamin

that bus will be
leaving at 11:05.

Are you getting off?

How far it
from here to Placamin?

Um, like 16 or 17 miles.

Jesus Christ!

So...

I have to wait two hours

for a bus that's going
to drive me 17 miles!

That's great, I'm never
going to make it in time.

You should rent a car?

I should.

I will.

Can I do that here?

Well, you'll probably need
a valid driving license.

When did yours expire?

Like 1989?

Do you, um...

do you need some company?

Seriously?

Yeah, well you going to buy
this famous record, right?

The one with the ghost of
murdered woman
screaming on it?

I suddenly have the
urge to hear it.

Is that is OK?

Yeah. OK.

-Yeah.
-Yeah.

Mmm, sure, why not.

-Um--
-Cool.

I have to meet somebody first.

You have friends?

[jazz music]

Oh, Alan.

Hey!

Ah!

It's great to see you.

I'm so glad you're out.

Look ah,
I know I said it on the phone...

but I got to tell you

about how goddam sorry I am
about this whole business.

If I hadn't blabbed
to Paul that day

maybe things would
have turned out different.

It's all right Dan,
it wasn't your fault.

I thought about it every day.

And I never
said a word to anybody.

I mean...
since about you-know-what.

Twenty years,
I kept my mouth shut.

I appreciate that.

And I took care of that
business, you know,
it's the least I can do.

Thank you.

Oh, sorry this is Vanessa.

Vanessa, the Diamond Dan.

-Hi.
-Hey, yeah...

-Just Dan.
-Oh Dan, nice to meet you.

So...

how long have you known Alan?

-Um...
-We are--

Like 19 hours or
something like that.

-Nice.
-Yeah.

Oh!

Hey man! [laughs]

Good luck to you.

I'll-- I'll call you.

OK.

Take care.

-OK.
-All right.

Bye.

Bye.

[door chimes]

What's in the bag?

Closure.

[acoustic guitar music]

Now what?

We early.

Hmm.

Funny place to have
a business meeting?

You still haven't...

told me about this guy?

How did he get the record?

And that ah...

that bag has a lot of
resolution in it.

How much does he want for it?

You know I'm starting
to wonder why

I brought you along?

Because you're an old man
who just got out of prison.

And I'm a young woman

whom you have been
fantasizing about

from the moment that you
have been staring at my ass

at the bus station.

I couldn't buy this record
off somebody who knew he had it.

You came all the way down here

to hustle it from
some unsuspecting loser?

Actually, this guy
thinks he's the hustler.

Oh!

Nice.

So, we going to con a conman.

Something like that.

You see, this particular guy

recently came into
temporary possession

of a large number of records.

He'd like to sell
a few of them...

before they no longer
in his possession.

So...

I'm going to tell him
which four records I want,

one of them being
Jimmy Kane Baldwin

which he has most likely
never heard of...

then I'm going to drop you,
wherever it is you're heading.

Then I'm gonna...

go home.

Which is... where...
nowadays?

Still trying to figure that out.

This our guy?

That is the worst
suit I've ever seen.

Yeah.

[acoustic guitar music]

Mr. Groome?

Yes.

I'm not sure how well
these records are organized,

but it may take
me quite some time

to find the vinyl
I'm looking for?

Oh...

I think you'll find it

much easier than you think!

♪ Ain't no body ♪

♪ Dirty business ♪

♪ How my baby treat me ♪

♪ Nobody business but mine
♪

♪ Ain't nobody crazy
business ♪

♪ How my baby treat me ♪

[brakes squeak]

Here we are.

[song fades]

Mother fucker.

I don't believe this.

[Paul] He invited you too?

I got out two
days before you did,

how'd you beat me here?

I took a plane.

Gentlemen...

Gentlemen!

I asked both of you here
in good faith.

Now, it was clear to me

from the records of your trials

some years ago,
you both...

had a keen interest
in this collection.

And I made both of you
the same offer.

Select five records
from among the thousands.

Now Raymond Walker,

he didn't do an inventory.

That task is up to me.

So ten records could easily slip
away from this collection.

Nobody would ever notice.

But it got me to thinking?

You each offered such
an extravagant sum

for the opportunity.

Well...

maybe it wasn't five records
you were interested in?

Perhaps you were you interested
in one record?

Yes.

Possibly...

this one?

Mother fucker!

[Paul laughs]

You met some
young piece of tail,

on whatever godforsaken train

or whatever the hell
it is that brought you out here

and it never enters
your thick white skull,

for one second that a woman that
looks like... that...

wouldn't have shit to do
with you if she
didn't want something?

Are you
that goddam stupid?

Now Paul, settle down.

Alan,
I'm sorry for the deception.

But don't blame Vanessa.

She was just paying back
a debt owed by her
incarcerated father.

Now!

We have a transaction to do.

Y'all brought cash?

Twenty thousand dollars.

The deal is off now.

Oh?

Alan, do you feel the same way?

If I don't leave here
with that record,

you don't leave here
with my 20 000.

Uh huh.

Well, perhaps we need
some more clarification.

You see, I did some poking
around on my own.

And I find out
this record doesn't even exist.

But, if it did exist...

it would be worth
a whole lot more

than 20 000 dollars.

So!

I've decided to keep it.

-Come on!
-[Paul] Arsehole.

[Lincoln laughs hysterically]

Twenty years in prison...
for nothing!

Now wait a minute,
what if we turn you in for...

-Stealing or embezzlement or--
-Yeah.

...misappropriation of public
property or something.

Well...
I don't think officer Frye

would allow that to happen.

Given he could find cause...
to arrest two convicted

murderers out of state...

for a... well...

I dunno... whatever he wanted
to, I suppose.

Whatever the fuck I want!

The cash.

[bag jangling]

OK!

I think that
about wraps things up.

Pleasure doing
business with you gentlemen.

Enjoy Placamin.

[Vanessa] Wait, um Lincoln
I think you should have really,

really listen to that record.

I mean, you gotta make sure
that it's real?

Vanessa, what the hell
are you talking about?

Where am I gonna find
a record player in this mess?

There's guaranteed
to be a turntable

among these 100 boxes.

Yeah.

I think I saw a couple
in a box, over there.

Probably fucked up, though.

Mr. Groome?

Hmm?

If you gonna take our money

at least
let us hear the record.

It's the least you can do
for fucking us over.

All right, fine!

Officer Frye,
find a record player.

Vanessa find an outlet.

Let's make it quick!

[Vanessa]
There's one right here.

I dunno?

It looks real to me.

What the hell do you know?

Oh Jesus, be careful!

Shut up, arsehole.

If you-- a good trip to--

[mechanical humming]

It don't work.

[indistinct chatter]

-Sixty cycle hum.
-The platers locked too.

Move.

[humming continues]

I'd feel more comfortable
if he wasn't holding that.

Because I might make
a run for it?

-Vanessa, could you hand
me my bag.
-Yeah.

I think the motor deck has
secured in transit mode.

OK.

See how easy that was.

-You ready Bettis?
-Let's do it Teach.

[scratching]

[music starts]

[laughing]

♪ Love me ♪

♪ Oh man she's got ♪

♪ A little love doll ♪

♪ That doesn't die ♪

What's that noise?

♪ Happy well a man can be
♪

What's that noise?

Make it stop!

-Stop the fucking music.
-Make it stop!

[shouting] Make it stop!
Make it stop! Make it stop!

-Make it stop!
-No!

Make it stop!

[screaming hysterically]

[gunshot]

Make it stop!

[gunshot]

[Vanessa screams]

[Alan] Groome!

Make it stop!

Make it stop!
[crying] Make it stop!

Make it stop!

Make it stop.

Make it stop.

Make it stop.

[Alan] Oh shit!

Make it stop--
[gunshot]

[loud thud]

[heavy breathing]

Jesus!

Holy shit.

This is fucked up.

We need to call someone?

Fuck that!

I'm grabbing my bag and
getting the fuck up out of here.

You staying?

Shit.

[scoffs]

[door opens and closes]

What the fuck just happened?

I'm not...

I'm really
sorry about this, like...

I don't...

I get it.

Come on.

[brakes squeak]

[knocking on window]

-[Vanessa] Shit!
-Hey man,
let me get a ride.

It's open.

You scared
the shit out of me.

Jesus, Paul!

Just...

take shot gun.

Just get in.

[sighs]

[grunts]

You better be one the way?

On the way?

Yeah!

We in bubble-fuck-Louisiana!

Everything is
on the goddam way.

Hey...

which half you want?

The bigger half, huh.

You better believe it.
I'll never stop. [laughs]

[Vanessa plays her guitar]

Are you relieved?

What do you mean?

I dunno know, just...

the whole thing is over.

I guess?

If you call leaving
a couple of dead guys

in a storage locker

and coming away
with half a broken vinyl

after 20 years of relief.

Yeah, but I mean...

at least we got to hear it.

Even though the
shellac is busted in two

we're not chasing it, anymore.

The chase was all I had.

Yeah, me too.

She's good.

Hmm.

If you like
that kind of music.

All right.

Groome was a...

greedy fucking bastard.

I would smother his
grandma with a pillow.

Just for five dollars
and a scrambled egg.

You're a good person, Alan.

No.

No... I really haven't been.

Maybe now
I finally can be, you know?

Why?

Why what?
Be a good person?

Why now.

Oh, why you thinking about that,

I'm going to wash
this shit off my bag.

Oh... um...

can you hold onto
this for me, though.

I just don't want
to really get it wet.

While I wash my bag off.

Oh, do you want some like,
skittles or...

soda or anything?

[ending music]