One-Trick Pony (1980) - full transcript

Captioning made possible by
Warner Bros.

[Late in the evening
intro plays]

♪ Ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ first thing I remember ♪

♪ I was lying in my bed ♪

♪ couldn't of been no more
than 1 or 2 ♪



♪ and I remember
there was a radio ♪

♪ comin' from
the room next door ♪

♪ my mother laughed
the way some ladies do ♪

♪ well, it's late
in the evening ♪

♪ and the music's
seeping through ♪

♪ next thing I remember ♪

♪ I am walkin'
down the street ♪

♪ I'm feelin' all right ♪

♪ I'm with my boys ♪

♪ I'm with my troops,
yeah ♪

♪ why must I be
a teenager... ♪

♪ And down along
the Avenue ♪

♪ some guys were
shootin' pool ♪

♪ and I heard the sound of
a cappella grooves, yeah ♪



♪ singin' late
in the evening ♪

♪ and all the girls
out on the stoops, yeah ♪

♪ then I learn to play
some lead guitar ♪

♪ and I was underage
in this funky bar ♪

♪ and I stepped outside
to smoke myself a "j" ♪

♪ and when I come back
to the room ♪

♪ everybody just
seemed removed ♪

♪ and I turned
my amp up loud ♪

♪ and I began to play ♪

♪ and it was late
in the evening ♪

♪ and I blew
that room away ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ the first thing
I remember ♪

♪ when you came
into my life ♪

♪ I said,
I'm gonna get that girl ♪

♪ no matter what I do ♪

♪ well, I guess
I've been in love before ♪

♪ and once or twice
I been on the floor ♪

♪ but I never loved no one
the way that I love you ♪

♪ and it was late
in the evening ♪

♪ and all the music's
seeping through ♪

Evening there,
brother.

Hi.

Hi there,
brother.

Can I talk to you
for a minute?

Yeah, do you
mind if i--

yeah, do you mind
if I talk to you?

Go away.

Excuse me there,
brother,

can I talk
to you for
a minute?

Got any spare
change, man?

Excuse me,
brother,

could I talk
to you for
a second?

Brother,
you got a second
to spare there?

Excuse me, brother,
can I talk to you
for a minute?

Hi there.
Can i--

do you have
a minute?

Excuse me, brother,
can I talk to you
for a second?

No, thanks.
Not interested.

Well, do you mind
if I walk with you?

Are you from
Cleveland

or are you
just visiting?

I'm really
not interested.

How do you know
you're not
interested?

You don't
even know what
I'm going to say.

I know.

This is not
my first airport.

Hey, you're into
music, brother.

That's great,
beautiful.

You ever hear of
George Harrison
and Stevie wonder?

You know what?

They're into
the baghavaghita.

They wrote
songs about it
and everything.

Can--can I give
you something?

No.

It's free.

Here.
No, thanks.

No, thanks.

Uh, I got a lot on
my mind right now.

Krishna has
a lot to say

about a troubled
mind, man.

You should
check this out.

No, thanks.

You said that your
mind is troubled.

Why don't you
check it out,
brother?

You know, this is such
a minor point,

I hate even
to bring it up,

but I have a brother.

We're all brothers.

No, I mean,
I have a real brother.

We're all
real brothers.

This real brother
used to sleep

in the other bed
in my room.

Look, look, all
I'm saying to you

is if you want
to purify your
existence,

get into your
spiritual self,

check it out.

Ok, ok.
Hari krishna.

Ok, ok, Harry chapin.

[Music plays on radio]

Man: Did you
see the bird?

Second man:
Yes, I did.

Takes a lot
of chops
to prove it.

Radio dj: Back soon with
the boss of bosses.

Will you please
buzz on down?

I'm going
to bribe it up

with some rock n' roll
concert tickets

coming up after
we take a break
with the news.

News flash:
He calls them niggers,
I call them trash.

I'll let you know
what's going on

in the world out there.

And keep it beautiful.

If you're in
the park system,

keep your pants up
and your eyes open.

[Changing channels]

[Man laughs]

We--we--we--we were up
for a while.

Commercial announcer:
And the track is slow
going on Broadway,

except by your favorite
watering hole.

We've got to keep up
our reputation.

So, come on down tonight
to the agora

for our weekend stretcher
with the Jonah levin band.

Hey, man, how come
you came so late?

Second man:
I thought
it was Friday.

See, they done told me
it was the 20th and 24th.

Third dj: ...52nd street,
and some motown memories...

The tempting temptations...

Hello.

Uh, Jonah levin.

A reservation
for 5 rooms.

Hey, junior,
what time's
the first set?

Clarence,
come right in.

I mean,
taking a bath's

usually a private
moment for me,

but I don't mind
sharing this time
with you.

What time's the first set?

9:00.

But we leave
at about 8:15.

That's it, huh?

I am, after all,
a Caucasian.

I understand
and I sympathize.

Clarence Franklin
on piano.

Danny duggin on drums.

On bass, John dibatista.

Lee-Andrew Parker
on lead guitar.

[One trick pony
intro plays]

Ok, we're going to play
one trick pony.

[Whistling]

♪ He's a one trick pony ♪

♪ one trick is all
that horse can do ♪

♪ he does one trick only ♪

♪ it's the principal source
of his revenue ♪

♪ and when he steps
into the spotlight ♪

♪ you can feel
the heat of his heart ♪

♪ come rising through ♪

♪ see how he dances ♪

♪ see how he loops
from side to side ♪

♪ see how he prances ♪

♪ the way his hooves
just seem to glide ♪

♪ he's just
a one trick pony ♪

♪ that's all he is ♪

♪ but he turns
that trick with pride ♪

♪ he makes it
look so easy ♪

♪ he looks so clean ♪

♪ he moves like god's
immaculate machine ♪

♪ he makes me think about
all of these extra moves
I make ♪

♪ all this
herky-jerky motion ♪

♪ and the bag of tricks
it takes ♪

♪ to get me through
my workin' day ♪

♪ one trick pony ♪

♪ He's a one trick pony ♪

♪ he either fails
or he succeeds ♪

♪ he gives his testimony ♪

♪ then he relaxes
in the weeds ♪

♪ he's got one trick
to last a lifetime ♪

♪ but that's all
a pony needs ♪

♪ yeah, that's all
he needs ♪

Here I go, papa!

Jonah: One trick.

Whoo!

♪ He looks so easy ♪

♪ he looks so clean ♪

♪ he moves like god's
immaculate machine ♪

♪ he makes me think about
all of these extra moves
I make ♪

♪ and all this
herky-jerky motion ♪

♪ and the bag of tricks
it takes ♪

♪ to get me through
my workin' day ♪

♪ one trick pony ♪

♪ one trick pony ♪

♪ one trick pony ♪♪ one trick pony ♪

♪ one trick pony ♪♪ one trick pony ♪

♪ one trick pony ♪♪ one trick pony ♪

♪ take me for a ride ♪

♪ one trick pony ♪♪ one trick pony ♪

[Applause and cheering]

Audience: B-52s!

B-52s!

B-52s...

Announcer:
The agora proudly
presents the b-52s.

[Applause and cheering]

Let's go.

Audience: B-52s!

B-52s!

B-52s!

[Applause and cheering]

[Rock lobster
intro plays]

♪ Skeedoodle-a ♪

♪ skeedoodle-a ♪

♪ when you want
to party ♪

♪ you better look
down in the deep ♪

♪ we're all crushed in
and rabid ♪

♪ with rock lobster ♪

♪ ahh ♪
♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪
♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ahh ♪
♪ ahh ahh ♪

♪ rock lobster ♪

♪ Yeeoh ♪

♪ yeeoh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

♪ ahh ♪

Danny:
...And he's among them
and running, man.

And the baby's flying
through the air.

And, like,
he's going for it.

And he makes one of
these bomb catches.

And he's got it, man.

And I mean,
we was cheering.

I'm going, "yay!"
You understand?

Excuse me?

It goes booch!

Ha ha ha!

Excuse me?

Excuse me?

Ok, I got 2 Heineken,

I got 2 Remy,

a sloe gin fizz,

and a Jack Daniels neat.

Club policy is
1/3 off the menu.

Who wants to sign?

Warner Bros.
Going to pay
for it.

Waitress: Oh, come on.

You guys aren't with
Warner Bros.

I got to turn in a slip.

So, you know,
who's it going to be?

Jonah:
Just leave it here.

We'll straighten
it out later.

[Music plays]

Come on in.

Richie?

Who's Richie?

[Arf arf]

He's my dog.

I picked him out
of a garbage can

when he was just
a tiny puppy.

Literally
a garbage can.

Incredible.

I know.

I was outside
the kitchen
in the alley,

you know,
behind the club

just grabbing
a smoke
or something.

And I heard
this little,
tiny whimper,

and it was him.

It was Richie.

Richie.

I used to have a dog.

Oh, what happened,
did he die?

Oh, no.

He's very much alive.

He's my ex-dog.

He lives with my ex-wife

in my ex-apartment.

Oh.

Do you have any kids?

I have a son.

Your ex-son?

Nah, he's not in
the ex-group.

He'll always be my son.

Yeah.

What's his name?

Matty.

You live alone?

I have a boyfriend,
if that's what
you mean.

But we don't
live together.

I mean, he loves me
and all,

but we don't
live together.

How long you
been divorced?

Well, I'm actually
just separated.

Separated.

So, you'll probably
try and get back
together.

Where is your boyfriend?

On the road.

He's a roadie.

Travels a lot?

A lot, yeah.

What do you do
when he's gone?

So, when I got
my job waitressing,

I just quit
my other job.

I mean, it doesn't
pay as much
as my first job,

but I get to hear
all the rock n' roll
I want.

So, you know.

You really love
rock n' roll.

Oh, Christ, yeah.

Kept me sane
when I was a kid.

Why is that?

Oh, because we were
always moving around
the country.

My dad--well,
my dad's firm,

they would transfer him
to a different city

about every other year,
so, you know, so...

What does he do?

He's an engineer.

Like, I was always
having to change
houses,

change schools,
you know,
change friends.

I think that's when
I really got into
A.M. radio.

'Cause it didn't matter
where I was in
the United States,

they were always playing
the same songs.

That was like
the thread that ran
through my life.

A.M. radio and
rock n' roll

kept me sane.

Oh, don't use that one.

That one's perfumed.

Come on, look here.

Use this one.

Anyway, wh--oh.

I guess I must've been
somewhere around 13, 14.

Anyway, around there.

You know,
the real awkward time.

And I decided that
I was going to be
a singer

like Janis joplin,
you know?

Get up on stage
and scream,

drink a lot of
southern comfort,

meet cute guys.

And so I told my mom--

I told my mom
that I was going
to be a singer.

My mom, she says,

"doral, I never knew
you could sing."

So, I hopped up
right there

in the living room
in front of the TV,

and I sang
the first two verses

from Bobby McGee
for her.

Blew her mind.

♪ Busted flat
in Baton Rouge ♪

♪ waitin' for a train ♪

♪ feelin' near as
faded as my jeans ♪

♪ da da-da ♪

Those are the drums.

♪ Da da-da ♪

♪ Bobby found
the diesel down ♪

♪ just before
it rained ♪

♪ he rode US all
the way in-- ♪

Etcetera, etcetera.
It goes on.

♪ In the blue light ♪

♪ of the Belvedere motel ♪

♪ wondering as
the television burns ♪

♪ how the heart approaches
what it yearns ♪

♪ in a fever... ♪

Marion, it's me.

Marion: Jonah?

What are you doing
at up this hour?

Yeah, I know
it's early.

Well, I had
a bad dream,

and I woke up,

and I decided
to call.

What happened?

Sounds like there is
something really wrong.

Nah, just
a weird dream
in a motel room.

Hold on,
I can't hear.

Matty's got
a television show on.

Where are you?

I'm in Cleveland.

Just wanted to hear
your voice.

What? I can't hear.

I say,
I'm in Cleveland.

And I just wanted
to hear your voice,

and know that
Matty's fine.

Yeah, he's fine.

Christ, long distance calls
at 6:30 in the morning.

I thought the police
were going to tell me

you're dead or something.

Nah, not dead.

I'm in Cleveland.

[Music plays]

Um, Matty would
really like
to see you.

He's a little
upset about
things.

Jonah: Well,
he could stay with me
for a couple of days

when I get back
after our date.

Mmm.

Jonah, I made
an appointment

for a meeting
with the lawyers.

We both have
to be there
to sign.

Why do we both
have to be there?

Well, that's
what I said.

Yeah, well, uh,
I don't know about you,

but I don't particularly
look forward

to having your lawyer
and you and my lawyer...

Marion: I know.

I don't look forward
to it either.

Well, that's why
we should call them
and say--

I don't think
we should
talk about it

right now, ok?

Ok.

Ok.

Well, good-bye.

Ok, good-bye.

[Click]

Your daddy said
to give you
a big kiss.

You're going
to go spend
a couple of days

at his new apartment
when he gets back.

Danny:
Ok, here we go.

"2 bands perform
at the agora."

We got reviewed.

"The agora
presented
an evening

"of diverse
musical styles
last night

"when it paired
a new wave band,
the b-52s,

"with the veteran
Jonah levin band.

"The b-52s are
the latest darlings

"of the new wave
of rock

that is sometimes
called punk."

Uh, skip that shit.
Let's hear about US.

♪ Lord,
I am a working man ♪

♪ and music is my trade ♪

♪ I'm travelin' with
this 5-piece band ♪

♪ I play the ace
of spades ♪

♪ I have a wife
and family ♪

♪ they don't see
much of me ♪

♪ god bless
the absentee... ♪

"This highly
regarded band

"of the late
sixties
and seventies

"hasn't appeared
in Cleveland
for some time.

"Perhaps this
accounted for
the muted reception

"that greeted
their performance

muted reception?In the early show
last night."

They call that
a muted reception?

♪ ...and music
is my knife ♪

♪ it cuts away
my sorrow ♪

♪ and purifies
my life ♪

♪ but if I could
release my heart ♪

♪ from veins
and arteries ♪

♪ I'd say,
god bless the absentee ♪

♪ I miss my woman so ♪

♪ I miss my bed ♪

♪ I miss those
soft places ♪

♪ I used to lay
my head... ♪

"The drummer,
whose name
I didn't get..."

Oh, great.

"Was as solid
as a metronome.

"The bassist
and piano player

"were equally
competent

if uninspiring."

Uninspiring?

"However,

"lead guitarist,
Lee-Andrew Parker,

"was a real gem

"playing some
of the most
mellifluous solos

this reviewer
has heard in
a long time."

Hey.

What's mellifluous?

I think it means
about the same
as bodacious.

♪ My son don't
need me yet ♪

♪ his bones are soft ♪

♪ he flies
a silver airplane ♪

♪ he wears a golden cross ♪

♪ god bless the absentee ♪

♪ lord, this country's
changed so fast ♪

♪ the future is
the present ♪

♪ the present's
in the past ♪

♪ the highways are
in litigation ♪

♪ the airports disagree ♪

♪ god bless... ♪

"The band's
50-minute set

"consisted of
some familiar
levin compositions,

"though he left out
soft parachutes,

"his anti-war hit of
the late sixties.

"Levin himself seems
somewhat less ambitious
these days

"or maybe we just
caught him on
an off-night.

"The fire of his
earlier works

"seems to have
dimmed somewhat,

"although sparks
were still visible
at times

last night
in the agora."

That's it.

Clarence:
Ah, who gives a shit.

Fuck 'em.

Fuck 'em, right.

Yeah, fuck him.

Who gives a shit?

Yeah, who gives
a shit?

Would you read that part
about me again?

He's mellifluous.

What are you doing here?

I used to live in this
apartment house,

and thought I'd come by
and see my old room.

Hmm.

I thought you were
supposed to be
in Dayton.

I came home early.

How come,
weren't you working?

Yeah. But they
canceled everything

but our weekend show.

Um, I just can't
imagine them folding.

Christ, that club was
around for a long time.

Well, it's gone now.

Yeah, I remember
this place.

The fern is doing
very well.

Yes, the fern
isdoing well.

It's doing very,
very well.

You spray it
regularly, do you?

I spray it every day,
and I talk to it,

give it lots of
encouragement.

[Whispering]
You haven't told her
about our separation.

No, absolutely not.

I didn't think
it would be wise
at this time.

It's just beginning
to sprout new leaves.

Where's Matty?

It's only 2:00.

He's got
his play group
on wednesdays.

Oh, yeah.

I'll bet he'll be
surprised to see me.

My mother came down
for a few days
last week.

Oh, that's nice.

How's old Florence doing?

Well, she's fine,
I guess.

You know,
it's the same
old story with her.

The broad hints about
reconciliation,

that sort of thing.

After 2 days,
I am ready to scream.

I'd like to talk to you
about Matty.

No yogurt.

No strawberry yogurt.

Well, you were
the one who liked
strawberry yogurt.

Boy, you get
a little separated,

and you can just forget
a few strawberry yogurt.

Talk to Matty about what?

Well,
he's got this idea

that he wants
to be a songwriter

and play in a band.

Role model
identification.

I wish you could
supply him

with some other role
to model himself after.

I don't see anything wrong
with the model he's got now.

Well, it hasn't
turned out to be
so great for you.

I don't know.
Hasn't been bad.

It's been 15 years.

14.

It's the longest
adolescence
I have ever seen.

[Sighs]

Well, admit it.
In 6 years you'll be
40 years old.

Now, you've gone
directly from
adolescence

to middle-age.

In 6 years
I'll be 40 years old.

In 16 years
I'll be 50 years old.

In 26 years
I'll be 60 years old.

In a mere 66 years,

I'll be 100 years old.

A grown man living
in a kid's world.

"Grown man living
in a kid's world."

You don't always have
to be sarcastic.

Well, I'm not
always sarcastic.

Well, I was sarcastic
in the late seventies--

maybe '77-'78--

but, really,
since February '79,

I have hardly
been sarcastic.

You see, that
is sarcastic.

Well, what
do you expect?

Grown men living
in a kid's world.

What do you think
I'm doing out there,

cashing in
my "e" tickets

for a ride through
the magic kingdom?

You think
I'm playing my gigs

in the haunted house?

No. What I mean is,

you have wanted
to be Elvis Presley

since you're
13 years old.

Now, that
is not a goal

you're likely
to achieve.

He didn't do so well
with it himself.

Don't you think
that it's time

you gave up
the illusion?

Wait a minute.

I know that voice.

That's the voice
of the infamous
Dr. Engelhart

about to deliver her
"be a grownup" speech.

Isn't that so,
Dr. Engelhart?

I really think you
ought to examine

your hostility
to Dr. Engelhart.

I have no hostility
to Dr. Engelhart.

I'm just tired of hearing
engelhart's toy phrases

come out of your mouth.

They're not toy phrases.

She observed--i'm
merely passing on
the observation--

that kids play
rock 'n' roll,

kids listen to it.

Really? Well, is she aware
that Anna Freud--

Anna Freud--

happens to love
rock 'n' roll?

She came backstage and
sold US some blow
in akron, Ohio.

That's where she lives.

Do you want
a cup of coffee?

Yeah.

Any stimulants
will do.

Look, everybody's
getting older.

I'm not saying
it's bad.

It's just...
I don't know,

when you get
to a certain age,

rock 'n' roll is...

It's kind of pathetic.

You know...
I gotta go.

It's been great,
as usual.

What are you so
afraid of anyway,

young girls won't like you
when you're on the road?

I'll tell you
what I'm afraid of.

I'm afraid of you
boring me to tears.

Yeah. You know, Marion,
you used to, you know--

you're so
fucking boring!

[Crying]

I'm sorry.

I don't know
what you want.

You want me
to drive a cab?

You want me to give
guitar lessons

to 13-year-old kids?

I'm a player.

That's what I do.

No. I just want...

I just wanted...

I wish that when
you were here,

you were
really here.

I mean,
really with US.

Not just
sleeping here

or talking
on the phone here

or trying
to write songs here,

but...here.

A family.

The road
is the road.

This was supposed
to be home.

It's a great day
for baseball

here at yankee stadium.

The New York Yankees take on
the Boston Red Sox.

On the mound
for the Red Sox, their ace,

the fantastic starter--
Dennis eckersley.

I'm frank nesser,

and I'm Phil rizzuto.

We'll be broadcasting
the game today.

We should be ready
to begin right now.

Eckersley has finished
his warmups.

The first batter
for the Yankees will be...

Reggie Jackson.

Reggie Jackson,

just entering second grade
at the little red
schoolhouse

down in greenwich village.

Ok.

Reggie digs in.

Look at the concentration
on him. Incredible.

Here comes the pitch...

Swung on and missed.
Strike one.

And eckersley is looking
very sharp today.

He's throwing smoke up there,
throwing smoke.

Reg knocking some dirt
off his spikes.

Eckersley looks in,
he takes a sign.

Around comes the left arm,
here comes the pitch.

And it's...
Swung on and missed.

Good swing.
Good swing.

It was a very good swing.

It was a miss,
but it was a good swing.

Looked like he's going
for the bleachers,

didn't it, Phil?
It certainly did, frank.

He's almost up
to fractions now, the reg.

Yeah.
That second-grade class

is moving
at a fantastic pace.

It's just amazing that a guy
can learn fractions,

completely finish
his reading assignment,

and still be in there
on the last day
of the pennant race.

Well, that's just
the kind of kid he is.

Eckersley looks in
for the sign.

And the pitch...

Reg swings--
it's swung on.

That could be outta here.
It's big trouble.

Reggie's going around
first and second.

It could be a home run.

This could be
the play at the plate.

And here he comes
down the third base--

holy cow!
I don't believe it.

I don't believe it.

And eckersley
is arguing the call.

He's saying
he missed the plate.

Did you
hit that plate?

Yes.

Well, it's
a home run for reg.

♪ Who knows
my secret broken bone? ♪

♪ Who feels my flesh
when I am gone? ♪

♪ Who was a witness
to the dream? ♪

♪ Who kissed my eyes
and saw the scream ♪

♪ lyin' there? ♪

♪ Nobody ♪

♪ who is my reason
to begin? ♪

♪ Who plows the earth,
who breaks the skin? ♪

♪ Who took my 2 hands
and made them 4? ♪

♪ Who is my heart,
who is my door? ♪

♪ Oh, nobody ♪

♪ nobody but you, girl ♪

♪ mm-mm ♪

♪ nobody but you ♪

♪ nobody in this whole
wide world ♪

♪ nobody ♪

♪ who makes the bed
that can't be made? ♪

♪ Who is my mirror,
who's my blade? ♪

♪ When I am rising
like a flood ♪

♪ who feels the pounding
in my blood? ♪

♪ Oh, nobody ♪

♪ nobody ♪

♪ nobody but you ♪

♪ nobody but you, girl ♪

♪ nobody in this whole
wide world ♪

♪ nobody, girl ♪

♪ no, nobody... ♪

"...lawful for the wife
and the husband

"to live separately and
apart from each other

"for the rest
of their lives

"and free from
interference, authority,

"or control by the other

as fully as if he or she
were single and unmarried."

♪ No-no-no-nobody
but you, yeah ♪

♪ yeah, nobody but you ♪

♪ nobody in this whole
wide world ♪

♪ nobody ♪

♪ nobody ♪

♪ mm-mm, nobody ♪

♪ nobody ♪

[Answering machine beeps]

Man: Hello, Ziggy.

We're just sitting out here
waiting to play some music.

So finish
with the divorce

and get your ass
back on the road.

Everyone says hi.

[Beep]

Dad, mommy wants to know

if this is the weekend
I'm staying at your house.

Call back. Bye.

[Beep]

Jonah. Bernie wepner.

Listen, Walter fox is
willing to meet you
at his apartment

and give a good listen
to some of your
new material.

Uh, call Debbie
for the address.

I don't have it
right in front of me.

Bernie promises,
Bernie delivers.

Jonah, I don't mean
to rush you,

but, uh...
Why don't you play

what you consider your
strongest material first.

Uh, ahem, well--

I think
it's very important

for you to make
the right record
at this time.

Not from, uh, just
a career standpoint,

but from--really from
a whole industry
point of view.

Because you're
known as someone

who's been around
for a while,

and people feel--
perhaps erroneously--

that they know you,

and they don't pay
as much attention
as they might

to something that's new,
that's--that's flashy.

Not necessarily flashy,
but, uh...

New and...

Cal?

I want to hear
what you think.

You know, through
the ears of A.M. radio.

Well, you can
have my opinion

for whatever it's worth.

For what it's worth, Cal,

you have uncanny A.M. ears.

20 years of A.M. ears.

That's what they're calling
this profile piece

that billboard
is doing on me.

20 years of A.M. ears.

Did I tell you they were
doing a profile on me?

No.

Congratulations,
Cal.

Ahem. Uh...

This song is called
ace in the hole.

It's been going over
really well

in the clubs
that we've been playing.

The only thing about it
is that, uh...

We alternate verses.

I sing the first verse,
and then Clarence Franklin,

who's our keyboard guy
in the band,

he sings the second verse.

So when you hear
the second verse,

you have to sort of imagine
it's another voice.

Ahem.

♪ Some people say Jesus,
that's the ace in the hole ♪

♪ but I never met the man,
so I don't really know ♪

♪ maybe some Christmas,
if I'm sick and alone ♪

♪ he will
look up my number ♪

♪ and call me
on the phone ♪

♪ he'll say ♪

♪ hey, boy ♪

♪ where you been so-- ♪

Oh, come in, dear.

Cal, this
is my wife lonne.

Nice to meet you.
How are you?

How do you do?

This is
Jonah levin.

You remember
Jonah.

Hello.
Hello.

He's been
playing US

an exciting
new song.

I'm just looking
for a match.

Well, don't go
any further.
Here you go.

Oh, thank you.

Sit down, dear.

This is exciting
material.

Just a voice
and a guitar.

I'll take it
from the second verse.

[Starts to play]

♪ $200, that's my ace
in the hole ♪

♪ when I'm down,
dirty, desperate ♪

♪ that's my emergency
bankroll.. ♪

[Ring]

Whoever it is, tell them
I'll call them back.

Hold on.

♪ If you wanna get
some quality ♪

♪ that's the price
you'd have-- ♪

[Inaudible]

I've gotta take
this call.

Hello, my friend.

Well, you've heard
the good news, I suppose.

No?

Well, your record
is getting

major across-the-board
acceptance.

[Chuckling]

Are you happy?

Good.

The billboard on the strip
is of no value saleswise.

I told you that.

No, no, no.
It's not the money.

My friend, I'll gladly
spend the money.

If you--if you want
the billboard,

it's yours.

Ha ha ha!

Well, you should be.

Ok.

Good-bye.

Good-bye.

I'm sorry, Jonah.

That--that's a nice song.

What else
have you got?

Well...

[Strumming guitar]

Could do a ballad,
if you want.

Uh...

This is called
long, long day.

♪ It's been
a long, long day ♪

♪ I got some
rundown shoes ♪

♪ ain't got
no place to stay ♪

♪ but any old place
will be ok ♪

♪ it's been
a long, long day ♪

That's nice.

Uh, please don't
misunderstand me,

but it just misses.

It's pretty, but...
Top 40 is getting

much more sophisticated
these days, and, uh...

It's very hard
for a ballad to make it.

The song's
got no hook.

A hook.

A hook--repetition
of a catchy phrase.

I know what a hook is.

You got no hook,
my friend,

you're at an incredible
disadvantage in top 40.

You know, I'm rotating
12 songs right now.

12 songs. That's it.

All right. You get yourself
a new eagles,

a new Donna summer,

a feels like
I'm in love again.

You gotta make room.

Look, this is just
a voice and a guitar.

I said--i mean, if i'm
playing with my band--

you wanna play
with your band,
that's fine.

You can bust an act
that way, too.

That's the way
frampton did it.

Of course, a lot
of people will tell you

that it ain't music
in those big halls.

It's spectacle.

But here's my point.
Are you listening?

And this is what I said
in my profile.

Music, spectacle--

what's the diff
if it sells records?

That's true.

That's what I said
to the guy at billboard.

I said, "now, listen,

"I'm a funny kind of guy,

"but I will go out on a limb
and I will tell you

"that the stones--

"the stones are
the only group

"that ever
successfully combined

music and spectacle."

Hmm?

Maybe Springsteen.

How about
Albert schweitzer?

Who's Albert schweitzer?

You know,
Africa, disease.

He played the organ.

Albert schweitzer--the king
of music and spectacle.

What label is he on?

[Laughing]

Cal, I think Jonah's
just kidding you.

Hey, I like a good joke,
if it's funny.

♪ Riding on this
rolling bus ♪

♪ beneath a stony sky ♪

♪ with a slow moon rising ♪

♪ and the smokestacks
drifting by ♪

♪ in the hour when
the heart is weakest and ♪

♪ memory is strong ♪

♪ when time has stopped ♪

♪ and the bus just
rolls along ♪

♪ roll on, roll on ♪

♪ roll on, roll on ♪

♪ roll on, roll on ♪

♪ ooh ooh ♪

♪ Some people say music ♪

♪ that's the ace
in the hole ♪

♪ just your ordinary
rhythm and blues ♪

♪ and your basic
rock 'n' roll ♪

♪ well, you can sit on top
of the beat ♪

♪ and you can lean
on the side of the beat ♪

♪ you can hang from
the bottom of the beat ♪

♪ but you gotta admit
that the music is sweet ♪

♪ Where you been
so long? ♪

♪ Don't you know me? ♪

♪ I'm your ace
in the hole ♪

♪ oh, yeah ♪

♪ ace in the hole ♪

♪ lean on me ♪

♪ don't you know me? ♪

♪ I'm your guarantee ♪

Whoo!

♪ Some people say music ♪

♪ that's their ace
in the hole ♪

♪ just your ordinary
rhythm and blues ♪

♪ your basic
rock and roll ♪

♪ well, you can sit
on top of the beat ♪

♪ you can lean
on the side of the beat ♪

♪ you can hang from
the bottom of the beat ♪

♪ but you gotta admit
that the music is sweet ♪

♪ hey, junior ♪

♪ I'm your ace
in the hole ♪

♪ I'm talkin' to you ♪

♪ hey, junior ♪

♪ hey ♪

♪ I'm your ace
in the hole ♪

♪ I'm talkin' to you ♪

♪ hey, junior ♪

♪ yeah ♪

♪ I'm your ace
in the hole ♪

♪ I'm talkin' to you ♪

♪ hey, junior ♪

♪ hey ♪

♪ I'm your ace
in the hole ♪

Uh...

Um, king Curtis.

Uh, Donny hathaway.

Otis Redding.

The greatest.

Dock of the baywas
just becoming a hit

when his plane
went down.

Sam Cooke.

Johnny, wanna play some
rock 'n' roll deaths?

Yeah, I'll play.

Ok. Put up 20.

20.

Um...

Uh, Jimi Hendrix.

♪ Maybe, baby ♪

Late, great
buddy Holly.

Uh, Bobby Darin.

He's not technically
rock 'n' roll,
you know.

Yeah, he qualifies.

Splish splash.
Queen of the hop.

That was
early stuff, man.

Later, he was
strictly Vegas.

No, and then
that Tim hardin tune.

If I were
a carpenter.

If I were
a carpenter.

Well, I still
don't think

he technically
qualifies,

but let's
not quibble.

Anyway, now that
you mention it,

Tim hardin.

He's not dead.
You're out.

Bullshit I'm out.
He od'd.

He did not od.

Croce.

You're out.
Take his bread.

Croce's good.

We should have
2 separate categories--

for the ods and for
the plane crashes.

No, no, no. Now that
we're playing
for money now,

let's just get
the names together.

Ok. Mama cass.
Cass Elliott.

Ritchie valens.

Larry McCoy.

Lynyrd skynyrd.

You only get
one point.

That gets
only one point.

Lynyrd skynyrd.

The fifties
rock 'n' roll guy.

Be-bop-a-lula.

Gene Vincent.

The guy from Chicago.

Um...blew his brains out.

Uh, Terry...
Terry something or other.

There must be some
English guys who died.

We just don't pay
attention that much.

Um, English...

English dead people.

English dead.
English dead.

Oh, oh. Eddie Cochran.

He's not English.
He died in england.

Who was it?
Eddie Cochran?

Yeah. Summertime blues.

All right.
The first drummer

with the average
white band.

Robbie...

Right.

I don't know
his last name.

Robbie od'd at Cher's
friend's house.

I'm running out
of names.

Right.

"Od'd at Cher's
friend's house"
was his last name?

No. That's
where he...

♪ See my baby ♪

Frankie lyman.

Uh, let me see.

Janis joplin.

Joplin's good.

Elvis.

Yeah. He's dead.

♪ It's been
a long, long day ♪

♪ I got some
rundown shoes ♪

♪ ain't got
no place to stay ♪

♪ but any old place
will be ok ♪

♪ it's been
a long, long day ♪

♪ good night ♪

♪ good night ♪

♪ my love ♪

♪ I've sure been
on this road ♪

♪ done nearly 14 years ♪

♪ can't say
my name's well known ♪

♪ you don't see my face
in rolling stone ♪

♪ but I've sure been
on this road ♪

♪ good night ♪

♪ good night ♪

♪ my love ♪

♪ slow motion ♪

♪ half a dollar bill ♪

♪ that's what I say
to myself ♪

♪ juke box in the corner ♪

♪ shootin' to kill ♪

♪ it's been a-- ♪

♪ it's been
a long, long day ♪

♪ I sure could
use a friend ♪

♪ don't have
much else to say ♪

♪ I hate to abuse
an old cliché ♪

♪ but it's been
a long, long day ♪

♪ it's been a long ♪

♪ long ♪

♪ long day ♪

Let's just try and
get this boy going.

Please, god.

Please let's
light him.

♪ Half an hour ♪

♪ change your strings
and tune up ♪

♪ sizing the room up ♪

♪ checkin' the bar ♪

Hey, jughead,

when we gonna play
the rising sun?

♪ Local girls
unspoken conversations ♪

♪ misinformation ♪

♪ plays guitar ♪

♪ they say Jonah ♪

♪ he was swallowed
by a whale ♪

♪ but I say there's
no truth to that tale ♪

♪ I know Jonah ♪

♪ he was swallowed
by a song ♪

[Harmonica solo]

Lee: Would I mind
coming down

and sitting in
with the band

just to check out

and see if everything
feels good?

I need the money,
he's saying.

I don't mind.

So he tells me
to go to this
rehearsal studio

on west 52nd
street.

I go there...

And there's
nobody there.

It's a fucking
audition.

No guitars, nothin'.

And, uh--

what's this club like?

Well, it was a folk club
on the circuit

where everybody worked--

pussy time.

Tom Paxton,
Dave Van ronk...

New lost city ramblers,
Bobby Gibson...

Lee: Play something...

Phil ochs.

And then when everybody
went electric,

it became a blues club--

j. Geils band,

Paul butterfield blues band,

Sonny Terry
and brownie mcghee.

This was the first club
I worked right after
I married Marion.

Clarence:
Hello, my dear...

She used to
travel with--

Clarence is here.

The bigger the cushion,
the better for pushin'.

Man, that was
a good time.

What the fuck is this?

It's closed.

I don't believe this.

I don't believethis.

Maybe you got
the dates wrong.

No! I don't have
the dates wrong.

25th, 26th, 27th.

Son of a bitch,
he just confirmed
with me 3 weeks ago.

I don't believe this.

You got
his home number?

595-1991.

Son of a bitch!

[Pinball machine plinks]

Well, look, anyway,

I appreciate
your talking to me.

I know it's not
your problem.

Well, look, uh...

[Phone conversation
becomes indistinct]

That was his wife.

Like to kill
the son of a bitch.

Well, he's gone.

Took all the money from
their joint account,

left her and 2 kids.

What about our bread?

Well, what about
our bread?

Let me tell you
something:

We been friends
a long time,

but I can't live
on no $400 a week.

It doesn't cover my alimony
or my dope bills.

What dope bill?

You haven't bought
anything in years.

Fuck you, years!

You're not
the only one

with alimony
and dope bills.

But I am the only one with
enough brains to notice
when it's not working.

What did I do--

close that joint
just to fuck up
Clarence Franklin?

Come on, hold it.
We got enough money
to buy plane tickets.

Calm down.

Ain't your fault
the club closed, man.

Look, I'm sorry.

Bernie should've
checked this out.

[Sarcastic]
Check it out.

Yeah, well, somebody
should've checked it out.

I'm sorry, too.

Hey, well,
then just quit.

Don't threaten me,
just do it.

Maybe that's just
what I'll do.

♪ After the rain
on the interstate ♪

♪ headlights
slide past the moon ♪

♪ a bone-weary traveler ♪

♪ that waits by the side
of the road ♪

♪ where's your cold wind? ♪

[Acoustic guitar solo]

♪ Dream we are lying
on top of a hill ♪

♪ headlights
slide past the moon ♪

♪ I roll in your arms ♪

♪ and your voice
is the heat of the night ♪

♪ I'm on fire ♪

♪ in a phone booth ♪

♪ in some local
bar and grill ♪

♪ rehearsing what I'll say,
my coin returns ♪

♪ how the heart approaches
what it yearns ♪

♪ how the heart approaches
what it yearns ♪

You know...

Maybe I shouldn't be here
when Matty wakes up.

No, I'm sure
it's all right.

Well, you haven't lost
your magic touch.

Oh, you haven't, either.

I figure...

Post-separation agreement sex
has got it all over premarital.

Well, I don't know.

Premarital wasn't bad.

You threw in some new moves
that I don't remember.

Must be getting
a lot of practice.

No. No, I'm not.

Ah, yeah, yes, you are.

You were always good
at that stuff anyway.

So were you.

Yeah, so was I.

You were good,
and I was good.

Everything
was always good.

Yes, that's
the way it was.

Then how come
it ended up
in such a mess?

I don't know.
Listen...

Let's get in a couple
more laughs here

before we slip into
our postcoital depression.

Here's a joke for you:

There was a rabbi,
a minister--

Jonah, look, I told you
this wouldn't be
good for me.

No, you didn't.

You didn't say that.

Well, you know,

I knew I was gonna have
to pay for it later.

Yeah, but why does later
have to come so soon?

You mean, why doesn't it
come after you've gone

so you won't have
to deal with it?

Hey, I was just--
I was just trying
to kid around.

Oh, look...

Look, Jonah, you
can't just come here

and fuck me anytime
you want and then go
on your merry way.

I'm not on my merry way.

No, I'm sorry,

but I don't care
about the band
anymore.

I care--oh, Christ.

No, I don't care
about the band
breaking up,

I care about
our marriage
breaking up!

You left
Matty and me!

I don't know,
Jonah.

I just--
I just don't know.

If you love something,
somebody,

you have to give,
you have to be there.

Anyway that's
how it is for me.

Jonah--

hey, Matty.

Hey, Matthew.

You ok?

Yeah.

Everybody's yelling,
so I woke up.

I know, sweetheart.

Come to bed,
I'll tuck you in.

I want daddy
to tuck me in!

Ok.

We'll--we'll both
tuck you in.

Jonah:
Ok, back to bed you go.

Is it too late
for a story?

Oh, yeah. You know
what time it is?

It's after midnight.

That's not so late.
Once I stayed up till 2:00.

You did?

Well, tonight's just
not a good night
for a story.

So you have
sweet dreams, and...

I'll see you
in the morning
when the sun comes up.

You aren't here in the morning
when the sun comes up.

Would you just go
back to sleep, ok?

[Music starts]

♪ The boy's got brains ♪

♪ he just don't use 'em,
that's all ♪

♪ the boy's got brains ♪

♪ he just refuse to use 'em,
that's all ♪

♪ he says, the more
I get to thinking ♪

♪ the less I tend to laugh ♪

♪ the boy's got brains ♪

♪ he just abstains ♪

Got any, uh,
light-Gauge fenders, 9s?

Yeah, we have
the extra-light.

Ok, great,
I'll take, uh--

♪ the boy's got a heart ♪

♪ but it beats
on his opposite side ♪

♪ it's
a strange phenomenon ♪

♪ the laws of nature
defied ♪

♪ he said, it's a chance
I had to take ♪

♪ so I shifted my heart
for its safety's sake ♪

♪ the boy's got a heart ♪

♪ but it beats
on his opposite ♪

♪ oh, Marion ♪

♪ I think
I'm in trouble here ♪

♪ I should've
believed you ♪

♪ when I heard
you sayin' it ♪

♪ the only time ♪

♪ that love is
an easy game ♪

♪ is when 2 other people
are playing it ♪

Hi,
Jonah levin...
Hi.

To see
Bernie wepner.

Oh.

You can go
right in.

There's a radio and records
convention in Chicago,

the last 3 days
of the month.

You're available.

It's a big deal. You know,
everybody in the business
is gonna be there--

record people,
radio people.

They're gonna do
a salute-to-the-sixties
night,

and they got
a lot of big acts.

They got Sam and Dave.

The lovin' spoonful's
gonna reunite for this.

Tiny Tim.

They're even trying
to get Dylan.

They want you
to do soft parachutes.

I think I can
get you 2,500.

Bernie, we don't even
do that song anymore.

I don't know
if you know it,

but the war's been over
now for some time.

Look, a hit's
always a hit, huh?

It's 2,500.

Who knows?
Maybe the Beatles will show.

Oh, I'm sure--I'm sure
the Beatles will show.
Definitely.

When they hear that
the Jonah levin band
is gonna do a...

Salute-to-the-sixties
night.

Salute-to-the-sixties
night,

no question in my mind
they'll show.

Yeah, well, they
don't want the band.
They just want you.

Oh, shit, I can't do that.

What are you talking about?
The guys'll understand.

Look, they know what
the business is about.

Walter fox
is gonna be there, ok?

Trust me.

[Cheering and applause]Sam and Dave:
♪ I'm a soul man ♪

♪ I'm a soul man ♪

♪ yes, I am ♪

♪ I'm a soul man ♪

♪ I'm a soul man, yeah ♪

♪ just grab a rope ♪

♪ let me pull you in ♪

♪ say, darlin' ♪

♪ I'll give you hope ♪

♪ and be your
only boyfriend ♪

♪ yeah ♪♪ yeah ♪

♪ yeah ♪♪ yeah ♪

♪ I'm talkin' about
a soul man ♪

♪ I wanna be, oh, yeah ♪

♪ I gotcha, soul man ♪

♪ soul man ♪

♪ I wanna be a ♪♪ soul man ♪

♪ soul man, soul man ♪

♪ I love her ♪♪ soul man ♪

♪ I need her ♪♪ soul man ♪

♪ whoo! ♪♪ yeah! ♪

♪ Huh! ♪

♪ Sam and Dave
got soul, y'all ♪

♪ what you sayin', fellas?
Heh! ♪

♪ Soul man ♪

♪ soul man, now ♪

♪♪
♪♪
♪♪

[Music ends]

[Cheers and applause]

Oh, man, it's a long--

it's a long story.

Emcee: And while people
listened and danced,

it was possible
to believe in magic.

And a group
from New York City

captured that spark
with an unmatched vitality.

One of the best-loved bands
of all time...

The lovin' spoonful!

[Applause]

John Sebastian:
1...2...

Ah-1, 2, 3.

[Do you believe in magic]

♪ Do you believe in magic ♪

♪ in a young girl's heart ♪

♪ how the music can free her
whenever it starts? ♪

♪ And it's magic ♪

♪ if the music is groovy ♪

♪ it makes you feel happy
like an old-time movie ♪

♪ I'd tell you
'bout the magic that
would free your soul ♪

♪ but it's like tryin'
to tell a stranger
'bout rock 'n' roll ♪

♪ do you believe
in magic? ♪

♪ Don't bother
to choose ♪

♪ if it's jug-band music
or rhythm 'n' blues ♪

♪ just go and listen ♪

♪ it'll start with a smile ♪

♪ that won't wipe off
your face ♪

♪ no matter how hard
you try ♪

♪ your feet start tappin' ♪

♪ and you can't seem to find
how you got there ♪

♪ so you just
blow your mind ♪

♪ ahh, magic ♪

Tiny Tim:
♪ those stars above you ♪

♪ think nothing of you ♪

♪ do you believe
in magic? ♪

♪ Do you believe
in magic? ♪

♪ Do you believe,
believe? ♪

♪ Do you believe
in magic? ♪

♪ Do you believe,
believe? ♪

[Music ends]

[Cheers and applause]

Emcee:
The year was 1967.

Sergeant pepper,

perhaps the most important
rock album of all time,

was released and instantly
recognized as--

♪
♪♪

Are those the same changes
as in the dressing room?

[Plays off-key]

Entertainers stepped
directly into the fray,

addressing the issues
with their songs.

Along with
Bob Dylan...

Ok,
we're ready.

And Joan baez...

Watch those wires.

No performer more
thoroughly expressed

the emotional temperament
of the age than Jonah levin,

whose brilliant anthem
soft parachutes

stands as an enduring monument
of this period.

[Applause]

[Tuning]

[Begins to play]

♪ Soft parachutes ♪

♪ 4th of July ♪

♪ villages burning,
returning ♪

♪ the bodies all laid
in a line ♪

♪ like soft parachutes ♪

♪ Last year I was a senior
in Emerson high school ♪

♪ had me a girlfriend ♪

♪ we used to get high ♪

♪ now I'm flyin' down
some Vietnam highway ♪

♪ don't ask me the reason ♪

♪ god only knows why ♪

♪ soft parachutes ♪

♪ 4th of July ♪

♪ villages burning,
returning ♪

♪ the bodies
all laid in a line ♪

♪ like soft parachutes ♪

[Music fades and ends]

Man:
Hey, Houston.

Hey, handsome.

How you doin'?

Fine.

Hey,
Albert schweitzer,

what's
the good word?

Nice set you did
tonight.

Very
music-and-spectacle.

Hey...

Cal Van damp.

What's the good word
with you?

Well, you're
the bright boy.

I figured
you'd know.

[Chuckles]

Steatopygous.

What?

Steatopygous.

It means a large rump...

A fat ass.

Why is that
the good word?

Well, it's like, see--

what if I was--
if I was to say to you,

"Cal, you have
a very fat ass"...

You could be offended.

But if I say,

"hey,
good evening, Cal,

you sure look
steatopygous,"

then you don't know what
the fuck I'm talking
about, do you?

Hope you don't
have any plans

for getting
your records played
on any radio stations.

Not really, no.

Well, you shouldn't,

'cause you won't
get any.

Nice talking to you,
schweitzer.

Real little prick,
don't you think?

Gee, I couldn't tell.

Couldn't tell?!

Some more red wine,
please.

Yes, sir.

Ah!

Jonah, Jonah.

Sit down.
Jonah's leaving.

I'm gonna put a fist
right in his mouth.

He's leaving.Either he leaves,
or I do.

Excuse me, John.

Look, Cal says that
Jonah called him
a fat ass.

I'd like Jonah
to leave right now.

I'll call him
tomorrow.

Thank you.

Hey, John.

Hello.

Come over here.

Hello.

Hello.

Do you remember me?

I sure do.

You're...

Walter.

Walter.

Walter,
uh, has asked me

to discreetly
get you out of here

before you do
any more harm to him

or yourself.

He mumbled something
about...

Cal Van damp's ass.

Did you say something
about that?

You know, I did.

[Clearing throat]

I mentioned
that it was fat.

It isfat.

Yes, well, uh,

putting veracity aside
for the moment...

Walter feels that
your presence here
could be disruptive,

so he has asked me
to entice you to leave.

To entice me
to leave?

Well, actually,
he just said,
"get him out."

I added the word
enticement.

I thought it was
a more appealing
exit line.

You know who's here
tonight?

Dick and deedee.

You know what
the whole buzz is
around over here?

They're getting
back together.

I think so.

I think it's gonna
happen again.

What enticements
could he have in mind?

Oh, he had none.
He had none.

What enticements
do you have in mind?

Thank you.

Why do you
have this room here

when you have the big
suite upstairs?

I don't. I just thought
we might make some music

while the occupants are out.

Oh, where are they,
at the party?

I don't really know.

You mean they could come
in here at any moment?

It's unlikely,
but it's possible.

You're crazy.

That's part
of the enticement.

♪ When I was born,
my mother died ♪

♪ she said bye-bye,
baby, bye-bye ♪

♪ I said where
are you goin'? ♪

♪ I'm just born ♪

♪ she said I'll only
be gone for a while ♪

♪ my mother loved
to leave in style ♪

♪ that's why
god made the movies ♪

♪ well, I laid around ♪

♪ in my swaddling
clothes ♪

♪ until the doctor came
and turned out the lights ♪

An incredible save!

♪ Then I packed my bag ♪

♪ and my nametag ♪

♪ and stole away
into the night ♪

♪ hopin' things
would work out right ♪

And that's why
god made the movies ♪

♪ say you will,
say you will ♪

♪ say you'll take me
to your lovin' breast ♪

♪ say you'll nourish me
with your tenderness ♪

♪ the way the ladies
sometimes do ♪

♪ and say you won't,
say you won't ♪

♪ say you won't leave me
for no other man ♪

Hey, dad?

Huh?

Maybe if I'm going to be
sleep over at your house,

maybe I should
bring some of my toys.

Yeah, that'd
be a good idea.

Which toys
would you bring?

Oh, maybe
my parcheesi set...

Or my trains...

Mm-hmm.

And some other stuff.

Oh, yeah.

You missed a spot
right over here.

I did?

Don't shave directly
across your lips.

Good.

Very good.

You're an excellent
shaver, I must say.

Thanks, dad.

Those, uh, new songs
of yours,

i--i was distracted
when I first heard them,

but I
agree with my wife.
They're very impressive.

Thank you.There's something there.

I'm going to call in
Steve kunelian.

He's a young producer
that I think someday
will be very important.

Kathy, uh, send in Steve
for a minute, will you?

Thank you.

You'll like him.

I think he has a good
sense of the top 40.

He's got a good sense of
what's danceable, too.

He's very top 40
oriented.

That's the kind of album
you should cut,
don't you agree?

Yeah.

Steve,
Jonah levin.

Hi. We met in Chicago.

I remember.

I want you two
to collaborate.

Keep your eyes
out for singles
possibilities,

something that
has integrity,

but still commercial.

Great.
When do we start?

Anytime next week.

Good for you, Jonah?

Yeah, fine. That will
give me a chance to
rehearse with my band.

Oh, your band. I have
an idea about that.

Well, now's the time
to discuss it.

I've been working
with a rhythm section
that I really like.

I'd like to use them.

Jonah, is that a problem
for you if you use
Steve's rhythm section?

Yeah,
it is a problem.

See, I always work
with my band.

You worked without them
in Chicago.

That was
a big mistake.

I shouldn't
have done that.

And, uh, I just
can't do it again.

See, I've
been with them
for 10 years now.

Can we do
an experimental session?

Not without the band.

I, you know, I don't--
you know, i--

not without the band.

Boys, let's don't
make a melodrama
out of this.

Steve,
why don't you work
with Jonah's band?

Uh, I'll be with
them in a moment.

I'm going to have
to kick you guys
out of here.

I have some
people waiting.

It seems we have
a plan of action.
Steve?

Absolutely.

All right,
my friend?

Yeah. Yeah.

Well, it's, uh, it's
good to see you again.

Nice to see you.

Are you happy?

I really appreciate this.

Listen, i--i never figured
that you'd ever want

to see me again
or talk to me or--

Jonah...

Jonah...

You wouldn't by any chance
be fucking my wife?

Because that
wouldn't be conducive

to a good
artist/record company
relationship.

What was I going to say?

"Yes, Walter, I am sort
of fucking your wife."

Is that what we're doing,
sort of fucking?

Well, what are we doing?

Why did I come here?

Why'd you call me?

You're here
because you came.

And I called you
because...

Because you needed a job
and I was sympathetic.

Oh, is this my job?

I don't hire my lovers.

I can still actually
score my points
on the honor system.

No, I'm not the one
who's desperate.

Look, I don't
want to make my record

because you told Walter
to give me a break.

You've got
that all wrong.

You ought to learn
to take a friend's help
when it's offered.

Did you tell Walter
to let me record?

No.

It was entirely
his idea?

No.

I'll be 45 years old
on my next birthday.

The exact date I have
succeeded in erasing
from my memory.

I don't particularly
like the record business.

I don't enjoy
going to the conventions.

I don't like
going backstage.

I don't smoke dope.

I gave it up
when they were still
calling it reefers.

I lost interest
10 years ago.

You, on the other hand,
you want this record.

You need it.

I'd like to
see you get it.

Take a friend's help
when it's offered.

♪ Some people say music
that's their ace in a hole ♪

♪ just your ordinary
rhythm and blues ♪

♪ your basic rock 'n roll,
and you can ♪

♪ sit on top of the beat ♪

♪ you can lean on
the side of the beat ♪

♪ you can hang from
the bottom of the beat ♪

♪ but you got to admit
that the music is sweet ♪

♪ hey, junior ♪

♪ I'm your ace in the hole ♪

♪ I'm callin' you ♪

♪ hey, junior ♪

♪ hey ♪

♪ I'm your
ace in the hole ♪

♪ I'm talkin' to you ♪

♪ hey, junior ♪

♪ hey ♪

♪ I'm your
ace in the hole ♪

♪ hole ♪

♪ hole, hole ♪

♪ hole ♪

♪ whoo ♪♪ hole ♪

Hey!

Steve: That's great.
I really liked that.

Why don't you come on in,
we'll listen to the playback.

Jonah, I have
some ideas I'd like
to talk to you about.

The electric piano
that Clarence is playing
on the bridge,

there's a beautiful
thing there.

I think we could have
some strings in there.

You know, nice, nice,
nice heavy kind
of string section.

Texturally,
it'd be beautiful.

I think it's worth
the time and the money

to go in and
book a session.

Ha.

What do you think,
Clarence, strings on, uh...

Ah, come on. It'd
tear your heart out.

You see, it's not that
we don't want to have
our heart torn out,

it's just that we're
trying to make a ballsy
record here, you know,

and we don't want
it to be, uh...Lush.

I want to make
a ballsy record,
too.

Riv-river deep,
mountain high,

now that's
a ballsy record,
wouldn't you say,

with strings in it?

So we open
it up texturally,

then maybe we
could add saxophone
on the end,

on the solo, on
"roll on, roll on"
part?

Oh, no, you
can't take out
Lee-Andrew's solo.

Listen,
for crying out loud,

he's all over
the record.

No, Lee-Andrew
is the lead guitarist
in this band and--

sure, he is.
Sure, he is.

This doesn't
take away from
Lee-Andrew.

I'm sure he'd
love it, too.

Just broaden things
a little bit.

You know, don't you
want to try for some
airplay on this?

You tell Lee-Andrew
that you want to replace
his solo with a sax.

Now, listen,
you know, what do
you think I am,

just
a knob-Turner here?

I made--i made
a couple of records
myself, you know.

I know
what I'm doing.

I'm not here just
to play with you.

I know
what I'm doing.

Why don't
you just listen?

♪ Roll ♪

♪ on ♪

♪ roll on ♪

♪ roll on ♪

♪ roll on ♪

♪ roll on ♪

♪ roll on ♪

♪ Some people say music ♪

♪ that's their
ace in the hole ♪

♪ just your ordinary
rhythm and blues ♪

♪ your basic rock 'n roll ♪

♪ you can sit
on top of the beat ♪

♪ you can lean
on the side of the beat ♪

♪ you can hang from
the bottom of the beat ♪

♪ but you got to admit that
the music is sweet, yeah ♪

[String instrumental]

♪ Where you been so long? ♪

♪ Don't you know me? ♪

♪ I'm your
ace in the hole, oh ♪

River deep,
mountain high.

♪ Ace in the hole ♪

♪ lean on me ♪

♪ don't you know me? ♪

♪ I'm your guarantee ♪

[Music fades out]

Walter:
Very exciting. Very.

Well...

You certainly accomplished
what we set out to do.

I think so.

Absolutely.

I want to hear it again.

I must say that on first
listening, it's very...
Powerful.

Happy, Jonah?

Yeah,
I like a lot of it,

but see, now, he
said that anything
that we didn't like

we didn't
have to keep.
And I think--

this is the most
commercial thing you've
cut in a long time.

It's great.

You really should--you
should be very pleased.

Is that the way it's gonna
be on the final record?

Yeah, the sax
solo was--

hey, we don't
have to take it.

We'll just Walter
we don't like it.

You tell him.
It's your band,
your record.

So you tell him.

[Music plays]

♪ Roll ♪

♪ on ♪

♪ roll on ♪

♪ roll on ♪

♪ roll on ♪

♪ It's been
a long, long day ♪

♪ got some rundown shoes ♪

♪ Ain't got
no place to stay ♪

♪ but any old place
will be ok ♪

♪ it's been
a long, long day ♪

What's the problem?

Can I come in?

Sure, come on.

[Sighs]

Were you
recording tonight?

Yeah, I was
in the studio.

Uh, am i--
am I interrupting?

Well, I was watching
Mrs. Miniver...
Greer Garson.

A classic.

Um, my boy
is asleep?

Mm-hmm.
After a bitter battle

about whether he should
be allowed to stay up and
watch love boator not.

Who won?

Who do you think?

Did he beat you with
logic or with tears?

A combo, actually.

Wait, I want to
show you something.

Matty's been
working on a song.

"Hey, baby,
don't be cruel.

"I'm gonna pick you up,

"and we'll have a date
at the pizza parlor.

"You can have a pizza,
and I can have one, too.

"But you didn't want
a pizza, so I said...

So long, babe."

See that?

And you were worried
that he was going
to be a songwriter.

Who knew we had
a borderline genius.

Well, there's maybe
a little too much
emphasis on pizza,

but basically...

You got
any percodans?

No, but I got some
aspirin in the bathroom.

What's wrong?

The same.

Uh, I got a pain.

You really should
watch it, you know.

You just like
to take pills.

Who me?

That's
the truth.

You sound like Matty.

I am Matty,
just older.

Here's your aspirin.

It's not what
I really need.

What do you need?

A job.

A job?

A hug?

Jonah, what are you
talking about?

I figure the band
is broken up.

That's crazy. Uh,
what about the album?

Gone.

Well, I don't understand.

I thought you said
everything was going well.

You said everything
was going well.

You remember the time
that we were doing it
on the kitchen table

and the baby-sitter
walked in?

Yes, I remember that.

You jumped off and hid
behind the refrigerator.

I just sat there
with my pants down
trying to act composed.

She looked like
a man-eating rabbit.

She did?
I was the one who was
sitting there bare-assed.

You were the coward.

[Sniffles]

We had
some good times.

[Sniffles]

Didn't we?

Yeah, lots.

Jonah, what
happened tonight?

♪ Honey, you lied when
you said you loved me ♪

♪ that I was
a fool to care ♪

♪ but I'd rather go on
believin' your lies ♪

♪ than livin'
without you ♪

♪ are you
lonesome tonight? ♪

♪ Are you
lonesome tonight? ♪

I'm very sad.

♪ No one gives their dreams
away too lightly ♪

♪ they hold them tightly ♪

♪ warm against cold ♪

♪ one more year of travelin'
'round this circuit ♪

♪ then you can work it ♪

♪ into gold ♪

♪ they say ♪

♪ Jonah, he was
swallowed by a whale ♪

♪ mmm mmm mmm mmm ♪

♪ but I say there's
no truth to that tale ♪

♪ I know Jonah
was swallowed by-- ♪

I think I left
my glasses in the studio
this afternoon.

Ok.

♪ Here's to all the boys
who came along ♪

♪ carrying soft guitars ♪

♪ in cardboard cases ♪

♪ all night long ♪

♪ and do you wonder where
those boys have gone? ♪

♪ Do you wonder where
those boys have gone? ♪

♪ He's a one-trick pony ♪

♪ one trick is
all that horse can do ♪

♪ he does
one trick only ♪

♪ it's the principal source
of his revenue ♪

♪ and when he steps
into the spotlight ♪

♪ you can feel
the heat of his heart ♪

♪ come risin' through ♪

♪ see how he dances ♪

♪ see how he looks
from side to side ♪

♪ see how he prances ♪

♪ the way his hooves
just seem to glide ♪

♪ he's just
a one-trick pony ♪

♪ that's all he is ♪

♪ but he turns
that trick with pride ♪

♪ he makes it
look so easy ♪

♪ he looks so clean ♪

♪ he moves like god's
immaculate machine ♪

♪ he makes me think about ♪

♪ all of these
extra moves I make ♪

♪ and all this
herky-jerky motion ♪

♪ and the bag of tricks
it takes ♪

♪ to get me through
my workin' day ♪

♪ a one-trick pony ♪

♪ He's a one-trick pony ♪

♪ he either fails
or he succeeds ♪

♪ he gives his testimony ♪

♪ then he relaxes
in the weeds ♪

♪ he's got one trick
to last a lifetime ♪

♪ but that's
all the pony needs ♪

♪ yeah,
that's all he needs ♪

♪ What was that? ♪

♪ Whoo ♪

Captioning made possible by
Warner Bros.

Captioning performed by
the national captioning
institute, inc.

♪ He looks so easy ♪

♪ he looks so clean ♪

♪ he moves like god's
immaculate machine ♪

♪ he makes me
think about ♪

♪ all of these
extra moves I make ♪

♪ and all of this
herky-jerky motion ♪

♪ and the bag of tricks
it takes ♪

♪ to get me through
my workin' day ♪

♪ one-trick pony ♪

♪ one-trick pony ♪

♪ one-trick pony ♪

♪ one-trick pony ♪

♪ one-trick pony ♪

♪ take me
for a ride ♪

♪ one-trick pony ♪