Voices (1979) - full transcript

[man on radio]
'Good morning. It's 8 a.m. It's
21 degrees and partly cloudy.'

'I'm Bill Jones with the WJGE,
New Jersey News.'

'In the weather
news this morning'

'Spring seems to be far behind'

'with low temperatures
still hanging on.'

'The wind chill factor puts
the current temperature--'

[Raymond]
'How does the track look
for today, dad?'

[Frank]
'What? It's gonna
be hard and fast.'

[Drew]
'Where's my wallet?'

'Come on. First my tape recorder
and now my wallet.'

[Raymond]
'What are you looking
at me for?'



[Nathan]
'Your wallet was on the TV.
We are gonna be late for work.

[Drew]
'Raymond, there was money in
this wallet. Will you please--'

[Raymond]
'I didn't take
your ten dollars.'

[Drew]
'How'd you know how much
money--'

[Frank]
'Shut up. I'm listening
to the radio.'

- 'Raymond, what is this?'
- 'What?'

- 'This.'
- 'Magazine.'

[Drew]
'Penthouse?'

[Raymond]
'It's got an article
I'm reading for school.

[Drew]
'About what?'

[Raymond]
'About what I'm goin' through.'

'How come I get cramps,
because I need a release.'

'Article's full of important
information about releases.'

[Nathan]
'What page is this article on?'



[Raymond]
'She's a centerfold.'

[Frank]
'Let me see that a minute.'

- 'Let's go.'
- 'What are you doing?'

[Frank]
'Let's go.'

[door closing]

[footsteps]

'I know what's bothering you.'

It's not just because somebody
stole your tape recorder.

There's nothing bothering me.

How come you didn't bring home
any books last night?

Because I finished all my home
work at study hall yesterday.

What you need is
one special woman in your life.

Not different ones every month.

You're 25 years old. I married
your mother when I was 19.

[upbeat music]

[indistinct]

[music continues]

[Nathan]
I heard you talking on the phone
about the big test today.

I said that?

Raymond?

It's an oral test. You don't
need to prepare for one of 'em.

You know it
or you don't know it?

A girl swears, it bothers you,
If she's not wearing a bra

you think she's going out
with every guy in town.

I'm not
looking for anybody.

You're choosy. Cinderella don't
live in Hoboken. Believe me.

- Hey, sir. How you doing?
- What is it?

Come on.
You sign this right here.

- What is it?
- Just sign it.

- What do you want?
- Just sign it.

- Take your hands away.
- No. It's nothing.

It's Just sayin' it's okay for
me to go on a class trip.

- Its a zoo trip.
- It's a report card.

- It is?
- Let me see that.

Three D's, a C, and F in Math.
An F in Math?

You said you
were doing good.

How'd you get an F in Math, the
way you handicapping my races?

That's why he fails.

He's always studying your
racing forms.

Give me a break.
Will you, please?

That's his homework. That's the
work he studies at home.

- Alright, Pa.
- I want to have a date.

With your teacher.

[Raymond]
'She doesn't go for fat guys.'

[Paul]
'Always the clown.'

Here.

Remember what I said.
You'll never find it, Drew.

Will you get off my back?
I'm looking for nobody.

Are you going to be back for
the afternoon deliveries?

- I should be, yeah. Raymond?
- What?

- Yeah?
- Meet me after school.

I'll have to check my schedule,
see if I've time.

Just get to school
on time and meet me.

[engine revving]

[indistinct announcement on PA]

[announcement continues]

[Drew singing Burton Cumming's "I Will Always Wait For You"]

♪ Watching the time ♪

♪ Watching others steeplechase ♪

♪ Starting to chime ♪

♪ Timepieces holding ♪

♪ My life in their hands ♪

♪ Always remind me ♪

♪ Behind me, behind me ♪

♪ But I will always ♪

♪ Wait for you ♪

♪ Take my time and ♪

♪ Count on you ♪

♪ Somehow I know ♪

♪ I'll make it through ♪

♪ Until I feel you ♪

♪ Until I hear you ♪

♪ Until I see you ♪♪

[man on PA]
'Your attention please.'

'The tubes to New York
are ready to depart. Track 15.'

'To Wall street, Canal street,
14th street and 34th street.'

'The tubes to New York
are ready to depart. Track 15.'

[train wheels screeching]

[indistinct announcement on PA]

[man on PA]
'Can I have your
attention please.'

'Will the owner of a brown suit
with a green collar'

'please report
to the security'

Can you give me an apple?

Thank you.

If throws in,
you'll sign me.

Alright.

- Hi.
- Can I help you?

- I'm here to see Mr. Meier.
- Do you have an appointment?

I know he's busy to come
to the club I work.

- I want him to listen to this.
- He is a very busy man--

All I want is two minutes.
Is that too much to ask?

Just put it here, and I'll see
that he listens to it later.

I'm gonna wait right over here.

[Mr. Meier]
'Told ya he had a lisp.
That's not true.'

'Only when he talk's, Stan.
Never when he sings.'

'I'll set up a meeting.'

Just a minute.
You can't go in there!

Mr. Meier, Sir.

I just want you
to listen to this.

Say no, and I'm out the door.

- Two minutes. 120 seconds.
- Is this a joke?

I had a cassette recorder,
but someone stole it

with all my good tapes.

My name is Drew Rothman.
I'm a singer.

I also play keyboards.

You got two minutes.

You gotta take into account
it's not a studio recording.

[telephone ringing]

[buzzer buzzing]

Yeah?

[woman on intercom]
'It's Ernie Debbs,
from Tiny's Hideaway.'

Put him on.

Ernie? How are you?
Of course, I've got comics.

Dirty ones? How dirty?

[chuckling]
'Are you kidding?'

Do you ever hear
of Nicky Bluenose?

He's packing 'em
in at the cinnamon shoe.

'Hey, I'll send you a tape
of this stuff right away.'

'Hey, how is your
wonderful wife?'

'Great.
Ernie, how's the girlfriend?'

No.

I'll talk to you.

Great. I really like
your voice. Terrific.

Oh, yeah?

You oughta come down
to the club where I singing.

I'm much better live.

Personally I'm not interested
'cause I only handle stars.

- What do you mean?
- Yeah. Like Johnny Newark.

'He was last year's Mr. Transit
Authority. He's on the rise.'

- What's your name?
- Drew Rothman.

- 'Drew?'
- Yeah.

How can I put this?

You see, I only handle the
filet mignon of this business.

Like Johnny.

He's steak and I'm ham burger.
Is that what you're saying?

Ham burgers are
an American staple.

Look. Mc Donald's.

Hey. Hey! You asked
for my opinion.

I-I never heard
of this Johnny Newark..

Say no and you're out
the door is what you said.

I ain't a ham burger.

[clanging]

Hey! Here they come.

Hey!

It's a beautiful day.
Isn't it? I love the rain.

- It makes me crow, ha?
- What's going on? What's this?

What's goin' on?
You're welcome to the north side

of Hoboken, home
of the famous young gladiators.

It's a toll road.
$1 of your daddy's money.

- We'll let you get outta here.
- Get out of my way, maniac.

Hey?

How'd you like a nice long deep
scratch, center of your hood.

- 'One, two..'
- Pay them, Bobby.

- Two and a half.
- I told you--

Alright.
Alright.

Alright. You know
slumming costs these days.

Hey!

Five bucks. Thanks for the tip.
I really appreciate it.

Hey, think she's a virgin?

- Come again Susie. I love you.
- Look who's coming.

- Raymond, your brother.
- Oh, Jesus!

[Raymond]
'You invented it.'

[Drew]
'Then I got arrested. You learn
from your brother's mistakes.'

Come here! What did I tell you
next time I caught you?

What did I tell ya?

He told me he's gonna cripple
me if I don't pay up.

- Who?
- Jerry Risotto. Alright?

You've been playing poker
in the boys room again?

Where else am I gonna play?

Why you such a bad kid, huh?

Because I took after you,
that's why.

'Come on,
we're late for dinner.'

He's collecting tolls again.

Alright, Raymond. That's it.
No more allowance this week.

You took his allowance
away last week.

- I did?
- What kind of a father are you?

If Raymond were a race horse
you'd know his life history.

Let's talk about
his report card.

Let's not. And say we did.

You gotta get good marks
to get in to college.

I'm not goin' to college.

'I'm gonna be a professional
gambler like my father.'

You see what your
influence has done?

Shut up. You're going
to college.

- Yeah. Scream at him. Scream.
- Don't start, alright?

One night. One night that
doesn't turn into a circus.

Can't that be done?

Look at this crap. This stuff
is gonna stunt his growth.

- He needs protein.
- Yeah, protein.

I'm late for work. Tomorrow,
we're gonna eat protein.

Tomorrow, I'll get
a case of yoghurt.

[club music]

[Drew singing Burton Cummings
"Drunk As A Punk"]

♪ Pardon me while
I fall off my stool ♪

♪ I think I'm drunk
25 year old fool ♪

♪ You got to be
shy side of 16 ♪

♪ You disco woman and you're
bored and you're mean ♪

♪ Pardon me while
I tell you a tale ♪

♪ That'll make all
your war paint turn pale ♪

♪ These ballrooms full
of failsafe whale ♪

♪ Really not your
vicious disco ♪

♪ You think
you're so different now ♪

♪ Than you were somehow ♪

♪ You're so flashy ♪

♪ Isn't it birdie ♪

♪ Used to be a thing
called the the back beat ♪

♪ Used to be a thing
we do it all night ♪

♪ We thought we were mean ♪

♪ Thought we were clean ♪

♪ Thought we were right
thought we were right ♪

Gimme a kiss?

♪ But it was only
rock and roll ♪

♪ Oh-oh ♪

♪ It was only rock and roll ♪

♪ Only rock and roll ♪

♪ Only rock and roll ♪

♪ Only rock and roll ♪♪

Alright, Jimmy!

[saxophone music]

Whoa!

Wow!

[people cheering]

Gina, disco if you want to?

[male #1]
'Take it off, baby. Take it off.
Throw it over here.'

[upbeat music]

I like this
and you look good.

On the next set, I want you
to go topless and bott..

Have you seen any
of these people complain?

Nobody's complaining to you.
They're complaining to me.

If you don't like it,
you get out.

Gladly.

Psst.

Where you going?
What's wrong?

Floyd wants me
to dance totally nude.

What's going on?

What you doing here? Get back
up there and start playing.

What is going on?

She don't wanna
take off her g-string.

Don't know what's hidin'.
It ain't hidin' nothing'.

Then why
not take it off.

She don't wanna
dance nude, Floyd.

I only dance topless.
You know that.

Smells like baby.

All my competition
dances topless.

I gotta stay one step ahead.
That's progress.

Nude is the way
for the future. Right?

[people cheering]

- See?
- Not my future, honey.

Well, then you're fired.

And you, get back up there
and start playing.

- We quit.
- You what?

The band quits. We're not
working in a meat joint.

Oh, yeah?

Ray, look at bad experiences
from what I learned from this.

Main thing is to not to the same
mistakes somebody else made.

Julio, give me couple
of hard boiled eggs, okay?

- One cherry Danish, Julio.
- Forget the Danish.

You need protein.

Thanks. Here.

Put one in
your pocket for later.

If you keep screwin' with tolls,
It's just a matter of time

before cops catch you and you
gonna have a juvenile record.

Drew, I'm don't have
today's installment.

- Installment?
- I owe Johnny a lot of money.

If I don't pay him today's
installment, he and the warriors

are gonna come down
and blacken my eyes.

How much you owe him?

- I signed an I.O.U.
- For how much?

- A lot of money.
- How much?

- A $100, alright.
- A $100?

He kept raising. I mean,
I didn't think he was serious.

Every time I go to school he
asks me "Where is my money?"

How much you've paid him?

I don't believe he's got
a whole gang behind me.

- How much you've paid him?
- Nothing. Alright?

Every time I pass 'em
in the hallway they punch me

in my arm to make sure my memory
don't go stale. Look at this.

- Where?
- Look.

- Jeez.
- Huh?

[cars honking]

Who's she?

Tell Johnny you're not
paying him another cent.

I'll meet you after school
we'll settle it.

- Don't worry.
- She's beautiful.

Hi. I'm Drew.
Rosemarie, right?

I was hopin' to run into you.

I-I called information to get
your number, it wasn't listed.

You live in Hoboken?

Good morning.
How are you?

[driver]
'Good.'

Hey!
Rosemarie!

Hey, it's me.

Don't you remember?
From the arcade!

It's me.

Only got...a dollar.

'You have to get off
the bus at the next stop.'

Hey. Anybody got change
for a dollar?

[rock and roll music]

Keep it.

[panting]

Hi.

Oh. I got somethin' for you.

Its from the arcade. Remember?

I'm okay. I'm okay.

Where are you going?

You don't...hear me at all?

[rock n roll music]

[music continues]

[silence]

You go here?

Oh, you teach here.

You teach kids.

Is she one of yours?

I'm a singer. What I was doing
in that recording booth?

I used to have a tape recorder.
But someone stole and..

Oh. I'm talking too fast
for you to read my lips.

Must be hard to read lips.
You must miss a lot.

What?

Oh. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Someone...stole
my tape recorder.

So I made one of those records
and took it to an agent.

So he could hear my voice.

[silence]

[indistinct chattering]

[indistinct chattering]

Can I call you?

"Can I call you"..

[indistinct chattering]

[silence]

I'm here to pick up
the laundry.

- Follow me.
- Okay.

See him.

Ha ha ha.

The singer.

- Long time, no see.
- How's it going, Pinky?

Hey, life is good.

At the top.

$300, this suit cost.

Shirt 35, tie 20.
Shoes cost me 75.

You oughta get
yourself insured.

- I like your sweatshirt, Drew.
- So do I.

Listen, Pinky.

Your little brother, he's been
strong arming Raymond.

Johnny's not so--

What's he doin' playing poker
with an eighth grader?

Can't find guys his--

Raymond's a wise guy.
He has to play.

You tell your brother
that the debt is called off.

- And leave Raymond alone.
- You telling me what to do?

I'm telling you the debt is off.

- Don't tell me what to do.
- Okay. Then I'm informing you.

Does that sound better to you,
Pinky? I'm informing you.

And where's the laundry?
come on, where is it?

- You know, Drew.
- What?

Hey Pinky, Mr. Patterson
wants to see you. Right away.

Come on.

[drilling machine buzzing]

Mr. Patterson.

Don't you sing
at the Orchid Club?

- You've been there?
- He owns the building.

I'm not working there anymore.

Fat Floyd turned
the place into a meat joint.

- Yeah.
- Don't you think he knows that.

He's here for the laundry.

You know what I am going
to do with this room?

Gonna turn this building into
a night club with live music.

Good food and good music
you can't beat that combination.

- It's a great idea.
- Glad you like it.

Take him down and give
him some laundry and hurry back.

- I have some errands for you.
- Right away.

Mr. Patterson, you've booked
the group to play here yet?

Not yet,
can you recommend one?

Maybe you couldn't
tell from the Orchid Club.

But we got a strong sound,
my band is hot.

- Hot, huh?
- Yeah, can we audition?

Call tomorrow
and speak with Redman.

I don't know what
you're so happy about?

Your singing is nothing
to be happy about.

He was just being polite.

You better show me
the cleaning, Pinky.

I don't wanna hold up
your errands.

[Drew singing Burton Cumming's "On a stage"]

♪ I've been waiting
all my life ♪

♪ To stand in this light ♪

♪ To be here tonight
shining this bright ♪

♪ I've been waiting
all my life ♪

♪ To turn a new page
out of my cage ♪

♪ Now I am coming of age ♪

♪ On a stage ♪

♪ I know my life
is something real ♪

♪ On a stage ♪

♪ There are no words
for what I feel ♪

♪ For I can heal ♪

♪ The emptiness of a stage ♪

♪ I've been standing all of
my life outside the parade ♪

♪ Lonely charade lost
in the shade ♪

♪ All of my life this city's
tried to get me to crawl ♪

♪ Make me feel small
but I am 40 feet tall ♪

♪ When I am on a stage ♪

♪ I know my life
is something real ♪

♪ On a stage ♪

♪ There are no words
for what I feel ♪

♪ For I reveal
the man I really am ♪

♪ On a stage ♪

♪ On a stage ♪

♪ On a stage ♪♪

[silence]

[silence]

[engine revs

Hi, how are you?

I was in the neighborhood
doing some deliveries.

So I thought I'd drop
by and say hello.

Hello.

My family owns a dry cleaners.
See, there's my van.

[kid mumbling]

I also wanted to ask you

if you'd like to go
out Saturday night?

Friday night.
How about Friday night?

Saturday day.
What about during the day?

We could get together
for coffee.

How about I just
come by your home

and we'll visit
for a little while?

Alright. Tell you what.

I'll come by,
ring the bell

and then leave.

[chuckles]

Around noon.
Is that a good time?

I'll come over,
ring the bell.

If you open
the door..

..you do.

If you don't,
you don't.

Okay?

Here.

[kids chattering]

Saturday.

[mumbles]

The coffee..

...is..

...delicious.

No delicious.

At least you have a million
words to learn in this language.

'Good.'

Yeah. The coffee...is good.

[Drew]
'How was your day?'

'The coffee is good'.

'How was your day?'

The coffee is good.

How was your day?

- Who are you talking to?
- What do you mean?

Were you just talking
to somebody?

I was just
working on a song.

Workin' on a new song.

The coffee is good.
How was your day.

Yeah.

♪ The coffee is good ♪

♪ How was your day ♪

♪ Ta-ta-ta-ta-da ♪

♪ How was your day ♪♪

Top of the charts.

[pleasant music]

[birds chirping]

[music continues]

[cat meows]

[dog barks]

[dog barking]

[doorbell ringing]

Rose...Marie.

[distant barking]

Oh, yeah.

Coffee, yeah. Please.

[phone ringing]

[keys clicking]

[electronic beeping]

The coffee..

...is..

...good.

I picked up a book
at the library.

Good.

I was looking
for the word "delicious".

But, it wasn't
in the book.

De-licious.

[car engine whirring]

[door latch rattling]

I am Rosemarie's mother.

Drew Rothman.
It's a pleasure.

[laughing]

You are not deaf.

No.

Neither am I.

[chuckling]

- Are you a teacher?
- No. I am a singer.

Hmm. A singer.

'Yes, ma'am'.

A singer.

So...where do you sing?

I'll be working in a new disco
soon, Mrs. Lemon. Patterson's.

Hmm. Where did you
sing before?

Different club's in the area.
Mostly down on the shore.

Show business.

In between jobs I work
for my father, Rothman Cleaners.

It's on Harold Avenue
in Hoboken. You know it?

Hmm. I know-I know.
I'm in real estate.

I know Hoboken.

I do pick-up
and deliveries

but that's just till the career
really gets rolling.

He's telling me, that he is a
delivery man for a dry cleaners.

And he wants to
become a...singer.

No. Mrs. Lemon.

You don't understand.
I ama singer.

My group got signed
to play at Patterson's.

- Congratulations.
- Thank you.

Scott. Rosemarie's boyfriend
plays the harmonica.

I was telling him..

...Scott, your boyfriend..

...plays the harmonica.

Did I say some-something
to offend you?

No-no.

She just wants you to go.

[door shuts]

[phone ringing]

[female #1]
'Alright, Debbie.'

Drew. Haven't seen you around.

Oh, hi, Debbie.
I've been busy.

I can see.

Could we get, that table
by the window?

- Oh, anything for you, Drew.
- Thanks.

Are you happy?

Yeah. This is great. Thanks.

I haven't seen you here before.

[Debbie]
'Is this your first time here?'

The table's great, Debbie.
Thanks a lot.

[male #2]
'Hey, Merel.'

'How many times
I've asked you to'

'write the orders
so I can read.'

[Merel]
'Tomorrow I'll bring
a typewriter.'

Debbie?

I used to work night shift
in this brewery and..

[melodic music on radio]

Brewery.

Yeah.

Anyways, she worked
in the accounting office.

A-ccounting.

We went out
a couple of times.

[music from radio continues]

Could you turn
that down, please?

The music. It was,
it was too loud.

[Debbie]
'Coffee, Drew ?'

- Yeah.
- Cream?

No thanks.

Cream, honey?

[Drew]
'Did you want cream?'

Did you want cream?

'You want some cream?'

You want some,
we'll get it. It's okay.

[Drew]
'Hey, Debbie.'

[male #3]
'I had to shoot
my dog this morning.'

- 'Why? Was he mad?'
- 'He wasn't too thrilled.'

[men laughing]

Hey! Is there something
bothering you guys?

[male #3]
'What's with that guy?'

[male #4]
'He's nuts'.

I am not hungry. Are you?

[men laughing]

[Drew]
Everybody is a clown.

How much...of
what I say..

...do you get?

Even when I am looking
right at you

how much do you get?

Half.

Only half?

Goodbye.

How do you say "goodbye"
in sign language?

What?

What are you saying?

That, it won't work?

Because, you already
have a boyfriend?

Well..
Listen!

I know it didn't
work today.

But maybe,
we could try again.

Ma..

[doorbell ringing]

[crying]

[piano music]

[music continues]

I had to take it in
from the back.

If I took it in
from the sides

it would have pulled
from the armpits.

- You understand?
- Yeah.

Sorry to burst in like that,
but I got news.

You won't believe
the news I got.

That I am sure of.

Hiya, Drew. Helen, you're
lookin' pretty as always.

Hey, String,
what do you got?

A hot tip for my father which
will cost him $200 again?

- 'Hey, you didn't tell him.'
- Tell him what?

I gave that tip that won him six
and a half yards last week.

And for nothin'.I gave him
that tip to make up for before.

You got a big mouth, String.

I should have known you didn't
pick those horses yourself.

Last night, I'm in a men's room
at Floyd's stinkin' hole.

But what a tip I overheard

'as I was squatting on the John
with my legs up.'

Hey, String.

[String]
'Alright. Anyway,
last night I overheard'

two hoods from Jersey City
whisperin' about a fixed race!

- 'A banana race at Oakwood.'
- A banana race, you sure?

I swear on my mother's grave.
I heard it with my own two ears.

I'm going around trying to
raise every nickel I can.

I sold my car.

[String]
'Not even the connected
bookies know about this one.'

'The horse is such
a friggin'long shot'

'the big boys don't wanna
touch the yards.'

It's a very private affair.

'I'm telling you, Frank.'

- This is "get rich" day.
- Yeah.

'I've never had a tip
like this before.'

How much for the horse's name?

Don't freak
when you hear the price.

Because what I'm doing for you

is going to change
your financial life.

- How much, you squirrel?
- Fifty.

Fifty bucks you charge
a friend that helped you

when you were down.
Make it five dollars.

Frank, I'm only trying
to raise money.

- You're gonna make a fortune.
- What if you're wrong?

Oh, rip my eyes out.
Slit my throat.

[String]
'Drop me in the Hudson if this
horse don't win by ten lengths.'

Don't touch me.

- How much did you take out?
- Enough.

How much is enough?

Plenty.

I hope you're not
being stupid.

No, pa. For once
I'm being smart.

Good.

So, how much?

[sighs]

Don't you like surprises?

I had the last surprise
years ago from your mother.

And what was that?

You.

That's cute, Pa.

Now, give me Floorwaxer..

We have Sleepwalker
27 times to win.

[cashier]
'That's number 2, sir.'

Forget that. Give me, uh,
give me Sleepwalker.

All the way, come on.
Four times.

Give me two more times here.

Two more times
on that Sleepwalker.

[Drew]
'What number's Sleepwalker?'

[Frank]
'Number 2.'

What's the matter
with him?

He'll settle down.

[male announcer]
'It's still Floorwaxer in front
followed by Meritnation.'

'And then over Steel beauty'

'Crazy Lou, Iron Sunset
are far back.'

'Going into the back stretch'

'Floorwaxer burning up
this sloppy track by two.'

'Steel beauty, Meritnation and
Disco darling are together.'

'And Sleepwalker is beginning
to move on the rail.'

'Now in sixth.'

Now!

'Floorwaxer continues
to lead by three.'

'And Sleepwalker
is now fourth'

'and flying into that far turn.'

'It's still Floorwaxer
by two and a half.'

'Steel beauty second and a half'

'and Sleepwalker is now
in conjunction on the inside.'

'Summershot coming from
way back in third.'

'Disco darling, fourth place.'

Come on. Come on!

[Frank]
'Come on, you little..'

Come on!

[male announcer]
'Sleepwalker on the inside'

'is really making
the move to Floorwaxer.'

[indistinct yelling]

'Sleepwalker turns on again.'

'He's got him under the whip.'

'It's Floorwaxer
and Sleepwalker.'

'Floorwaxer and Sleepwalker'

'What the hell is that?'

'Sleepwalker goes just over
the inside rail.'

'The finish was Floorwaxer..'

Hey. Come on,
take it easy.

'Hold all tickets,
the inquiry sign is up.'

[Drew]
'What happened?'

[Nathan]
'They juiced him too much.'

[Drew]
'Juiced? What do you mean?'

[Nathan]
'They stuffed him
with about 50 Benzedrines.'

Those guys are
goddamn animal.

Half the housewives
in Jersey

are stoned on
diet pills everyday

and he's worried
about a friggin' nag.

That's right.

- Why don't ya join the cavalry?
- Why don't you shut up?

I'm you father. I don't care
what we're talking about.

You don't talk
to me like that.

A man busts close to $3,000
of his son's college education

and he wants respect.

This subject is closed.

I said we're not gonna
talk about it anymore.

Okay, big shot.

[music on stereo]

No, music.
I've got a headache.

But we don't.

- No, music. It's my van.
- It belongs to the business.

- My business!
- Ah, now he wants it.

[music on stereo]

- Come on. Come on!
- Get your..

♪ Come on baby lets go ♪

♪ Don't you hear
the rock 'n roll ♪

♪ Playing on the radio
sounds so right ♪

♪ Come on baby grab hold
everybody's got to know ♪

[grunting and groaning]

Oh.

- I'm alright.
- Get out.

[Frank]
'Get out of here.'

How do you know hamburger
works the same as raw steak?

Why shouldn't it?

What happened, Raymond?

Drew told me that he was
gonna take care of Johnny.

I told the gang
to screw off.

I wasn't paying 'em
anymore money.

I waited up after school
for Drew. He never showed up.

[Frank]
'That's it. Let's get Drew.'

- Are you alright?
- Yeah, I'm alright.

- Stay here.
- Come on!

Wait a minute,
I'm coming with you.

[instrumental music]

Drew!

[horn blaring]
Hey, Drew! Hey!

- What happened?
- Johnny showed up. Come on.

[music continues]

Brother's always askin'
to play with me.

He's always asking
to play for something.

- Yeah!
- We didn't hit him that hard.

I'm gonna break your face, you
punk. Just like your brother.

Never beat on
my grandson again.

I'll cut out your heart
and eat it.

- 'Read it!'
- I'm a punk!

Get out of here!

[ship horn blaring]

[Frank]
'Yep. Right over there
is where I was born.'

'We lived in a house right
where that oil refinery is.'

Remember, pa?

Can I have another sip?

Wait a second.
I didn't get any.

There's a whole
neighborhood here.

Woods too.

Your grandfather
built me a tree house.

Ha!

'Your mom and I used to
take Drew up there.'

You miss mom?

[melancholic music]

Yes. A lot.

'So does Drew.'

[music continues]

[distant sirens]

[water splashes thrice]

[water splashes thrice]

Three.

[water splashing]

Four.

[ship horn blaring]

[water splashing]

Five. Did you see that?

[music continues]

[men laughing]

[ship horn blaring]

R..

...O..

...S..

...E.

Rose.

[clock ticking]

[sirens wailing]

[ship horn blaring]

[children chattering]

You forgot the twelfth delivery.

Hey, Drew.

Where are you going? Hey!

[ship horn blaring]

- You sure?
- Yeah.

I told you, I called
after him yesterday.

It was only 10 feet away.

- He ran right up to the van.
- Show him.

Is he going deaf?

Oh, God.

Maybe it's from all that goddamn
loud music he hears every night.

I don't believe this.

A deaf singer.

Alright, shut up.
Here he comes.

The Jersey Turnpike
is opening at Pattison's.

Saturday night. I want
everybody there. Alright?

What time does it start?

Come around 8:00.

They're expecting
a big crowd, aren't they?

Hey, I'm right here.

What did you say?

I said I'm right here.
What're you yelling at?

Who's yellin'?

What the hell
are you screaming at?

Nobody's screaming. You
having trouble with your ears?

- Am I havin' what?
- Trouble. With your ears.

I am now, yeah.

- Let's get you to a doctor?
- What for?

- You're going deaf.
- I'm going deaf?

- We know.
- What?

[laughs]

You guys kill me.

I'm not deaf.

But I'm seeing a girl who is.
I met this girl.

- What girl?
- She's deaf.

- That girl we saw?
- Yeah.

[Frank]
'What girl?'

- That beautiful girl's deaf?
- 'Yeah!'

- What girl?
- Will you stop yelling?

Her name is Rosemarie Lemon.

And she can't hear,
this-this Lemon?

That's what deaf
usually means, don't it?

To find out what it's like

I plugged my ears
with cotton for a couple days.

'And went to the library
and I got this book.'

What happened to her?
I mean, she's always been deaf?

I don't know.
I never asked her.

Wait a minute.

- Deaf girl, huh?
- Yeah.

How do you talk to her?

We talk in sign language.

What do you think
the book is all about?

- What, is she deaf and dumb?
- She is not dumb.

She's smarter than all of us.
She's a teacher.

- Hey.
- What?

I don't like that word.

Come on, I didn't
mean it like that.

She graduated from college.

That's nice.

If she's deaf,
how come she don't talk?

[children laughing]

Faster faster faster.

[children laughing]

[chomping]

[children]
...three, four, five, six..

I missed you.

[girl #1]
'Time to dance. Time to dance.'

You dance alone.

Yeah. Dance alone.

[cheering]

[man singing "If You Want To"]

[silence]

♪ You can swim like a fish
if you want to ♪

[boy #1]
Fish! Fish!

♪ Swim if you're
brave enough to try ♪

♪ And the whales will be amazed
when they see you ♪

♪ In the deepest ocean
drifting by ♪

♪ You can run like a stream
if you want to ♪

♪ Run down the river
to the sea ♪

♪ And the ocean
will be full of envy ♪

♪ When she see you ♪

♪ Running out to me ♪

[children cheering]

♪ You can grow like a tree
if you want to ♪

[cheering]

♪ Grow if you're
not afraid to fall ♪

♪ And all the other trees
will be jealous ♪

♪ When they see you ♪

♪ Standing straight and tall ♪

♪ You can fly like a bird
if you want to ♪

♪ Fly like a bird if you dare ♪

♪ And all the other birds
will admire you ♪

♪ When they see you ♪

♪ Dancing ♪

♪ In mid ♪

♪ Air ♪

[children applauding]

You could be
a professional dancer.

Were you..

...born deaf?

You got sick?

You had a fever.

You had measles.

And then you just...
lost your hearing.

Six years old, you lost it.

Wow.

When I was six,
you couldn't shut me up.

Motor-mouth, my mother
used to call me.

[silence]

Yeah.

What were you like...
when you were six?

[thunder rumbling]

No.

Tell me.

[rumbling continues]

Talk to me.

Let me hear your voice.

Woo..

[sobbing]

[rumbling continues]

I don't sound good.

I don't care
what you sound like.

What I care about, is you.

[instrumental music]

Come on.

[Drew laughs]

[music continues]

[door lock clicking]

I'm gettin' my own place soon.

I gotta get my own place.

The maid called in...
sick today.

The robe, it's clean.

You can change in here.

[laughs]

My grandfather, Nathan.

- Come on, Nate.
- Huh?

- Time to go to bed. Come on.
- Ah.

Oh. Oh, yeah.
Is that her? Huh?

- Yeah, Nate, this is Rosemarie.
- Oh.

You are...soaking wet.
The girl's shivering.

I'm okay.

Oh, you're talking, too!

Talks, walks, eats,
she does everything.

- She even gets wet. Come on.
- Where are you going?

Come on. It's time
for bed. Let's go.

Where are you going? Hmm?

Let's go to bed. Come on.

- You're still asleep. Come on.
- No, I'm awake.

I want to talk to Rosemarie.
I really want to talk to her.

- Sometime later.
- After she's dry.

After she's dry.
After she's dry, huh?

I'm gonna change.

[thunder rumbling]

Okay, come on.

Now, stay here
and go to sleep, right?

Frank took Helen to the movies.

I know. I know. Now, goodnight.

And don't come out.

She is beautiful.

[thunder rumbling]

[melodic instrumental music]

[music continues]

[melodic music]

[music continues]

Don't move.

[Drew]
'What are you doing?'

Ah, Jesus. You sacred me.

What the hell are you doing?

Ah, some cockroach
attacked my big toe.

Clean it up.
Get back to bed.

You got somebody
in here with you?

She's watching TV.

[laughs]
Let me see her.

Get back to bed,
Raymond.

You're getting anything?

- Hey.
- What?

Watch your mouth.

- I'm going in there.
- You do and I'll kill you.

Ask if she's got a
little sister, you know.

I mean, tell her
I'm going through puberty.

We got wet.

Clothes are drying.

Take that stupid look
off your face.

I'm not stupid,
I'm Raymond.

Hello, Raymond.

Hi, h-hello.

You know, you don't, uh,
you don't sound too bad.

You sound
kind of foreign.

- What's going on?
- Oh, Christ.

You dry?

Somebody!

We went to Ernie's bar
after the movie.

Frank got into a
drinking match with Ernie.

- It's gonna ring.
- Hold still.

I got him. I got him.

That's...this must be
dream girl.

- Ah, it's a circus.
- It's okay. You got wet, right?

I'm Helen. He's drunk.

Don't worry, no need to explain
nothing in this house.

- Nothing ever goes right.
- You're nice girl.

[Drew]
'Stop breathing on my face.
You stink.'

[Frank]
'Helen, give me a kiss.'

[Helen]
'You are drunk.
You're always getting drunk.'

[Drew]
'Okay, roll up.'

'Come on, move.'

[thumping and crashing]

[Frank]
'Helen?'

[Helen]
'I'll not stay here
and crack your back

'until you fall asleep again.'

[Frank]
'I'm waiting.'

[Drew]
'This place is a mad house.'

'It's a circus. It's a god damn
three-ringed circus!'

[door latch rattling]

I'm worried about you.

'And why didn't you
let me know?'

Nothing happened.

I was at his family.

[cat meows]

Scott has his own apartment

car, college education
and future.

You two have
so much...in common.

All we have in common is,
we're deaf.

That's not enough.

It's a...hard world
out there.

It's a hard world
in here.

You have only met
one deaf man

that you really liked.

You want to cast him away
for a romantic fling?

It's not a fling.

- How do you know?
- I know.

- How?
- I know.

Has he talked to you
about the future?

- No, he hasn't.
- Doesn't have to.

Oh, doesn't have to.

But two months from now
or six months from now

or a year from now.

When he realizes
how hard it is

to live...with a
deaf woman.

He will say..

...goodbye.

And Scott won't be
here...anymore.

[crying]
I..

...love you.

[sniffling]

This man..

...his whole life is..

...his ears.

His music.

And you...will
never be able

to share his
first love..

...with him.

Think about that.

[male on phone]
'Saturday, Frank.'

I need much more time,
Mr. Geosovo.

'Do I get the feeling
you're not gonna pay up?'

No, no. I'll have it.
Don't worry.

'It would be stupid
if you don't pay.'

No, no. I'm not
planning not to pay.

- 'Half by Saturday.'
- Talk to you soon.

'You know, I always knew
you weren't a slime.'

'Don't be a schmuck.'

Please, don't talk to me
that way, Mr. Geosovo.

Hello?

I need to talk to you
about something.

Um..

...not now okay,
Drew. Please.

Can't do it now,
please.

Pa, I'll be back later.
Watch the store.

You gotta minute?

[Nathan]
'What's up?'

Nate..

Nate, I really
dig this girl.

So?

- Ah, you don't understand.
- I understand.

Yeah, I do.

Nate, I'm not sure.

All of a sudden
I'm not sure.

If I'm not looking at her
when I'm talking to her

she doesn't see
what I'm saying.

Sounds funny. But if she
doesn't see what I'm saying

she don't hear me.

You got to learn to
look at her when you talk.

It ain't that simple.

Nothing worthwhile
comes easy.

I don't know.

I think..

...maybe she's better off
with this other guy.

Drew, you're
not a thinker.

- Is it an insult?
- No.

Just the fact.

You love to dream.

Now, she has become
real for you.

The way your grandmother
was for me.

Real...is not easy.

- So, what are you telling me?
- I'm not telling you anything.

Nobody can.

But...your mother would have
liked Rosemarie for you.

You think so?

Don't you?

[melodic music]

[music continues]

[ferry whistling]

[music continues]

Why not?

It's what you want,
isn't it?

You'll never know,
if you don't try.

Know what?

That you can be
a professional dancer.

Drew, I'm deaf.

- I can't hear.
- But you're a terrific dancer.

I need to listen. I'm deaf,
the company may..

Wait a minute.

You feel vibrations,
right?

[chuckles]
So we'll get them
to boost the sound up

turn the speakers
to the floor

and you'll just follow
the other dancers.

There's nothing
to be afraid of.

It's only an audition.

The worst that can
possibly happen

is they'll say no.

Look at me.

I was breaking my back
every night in that brewery

dreaming of
becoming a singer.

So, I said to myself
am I going to die a dreamer.

Like my mother,
who wanted to be an actress.

My father talked her out of it.
Dad wanted to live in California

but my grandfather
talked him out of it.

Everybody is always
talking everybody else

out of trying to do
what they wanna do.

It's easy to get talked out of
it, 'cause people are afraid

to want something
'cause they might not get it.

You didn't get..

Oh, boy.

[laughing]

What I'm saying is..

...be a dancer..

...if it's want you want.

You're gonna knock 'em out.
And I'll come with you.

I'll be right with you.
I'll be there all the way.

The way you move..

...you belong on a stage.
You're great.

You could do it.

Come on, Raymond.
Let's go.

I gotta meet Rosemarie.
I'm really late.

Alright.

[phone ringing]

[Drew]
'Hey, Raymond. Get the phone.'

- 'Uh-huh.'
- 'Get it!'

[Raymond]
'I'll flip you. Heads or tails?'

[Drew]
'Raymond, get it!
I gotta meet Rosemarie!'

[Raymond]
'Tails, you get it.'

[Drew]
'You always got to be
the clown, huh?'

Yeah.

[Nathan]
'You better get down
to the store right away.'

- I can't hear you.
- 'Get down here.'

'He bet more than we thought
on that Sleepwalker.'

- What do you mean?
- 'He owes the bookies.'

'He's burning the store down
for the insurance.'

Hang on!

[indistinct chattering]

[choreographer]
'Hey, girls, put your names.
Your addresses..'

[silence]

[choreographer]
'Next five!'

'Put your name, your address,
your phone number'

'and your availability,
please.'

When do you start..

[silence]

'...and this is a
open choir, right?'

[choreographer]
'That's right.'

[silence]

[female #2]
'What do you want here?'

[choreographer]
'Numbers 25 through 30.'

'Alright people,
what we're gonna do is..'

[silence]

You two up.
You two down.

[fire alarm ringing]

[Drew]
'Where is the extinguisher?
How do I use it?'

[Nathan]
'Clear the racks!'

[choreographer]
'First to eight
is the chain steps.'

'Hit it, five,
six, seven, eight.'

'One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven and repeat.'

'One, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight.'

Now, the high jump. Ready.

And one, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight.

And forward, one, two,
three, four..

[silence]

'Ready. And one, two..'

[silence]

'...five, six, seven, eight.'

Now, the eight-count
contractions.

We'll do it three times.
Let's do it the once now.

And one, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight.

Number 26, if you haven't got it
you can go with the next group.

...four, five, six, seven.
Again.

One, two, three, four..

[silence]

'..five, six, seven, eight.'

One, two, three, four, pull up,
five, six, seven, turn.

'One, two, three, four,
double pay and end.'

[silence]

[sirens wailing]

Alright people, let's take it
from the top.

Four counts for nothing.

Now, remember I have
different steps.

So, don't follow me.

Two, three, four.

[dance music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music stops]

Oh, sorry.

[crying]
I shouldn't have come.

What happened?

I couldn't hear
what he was saying.

I-I tried to
follow him but..

You didn't,
you didn't tell him?

I knew,
I couldn't do this.

You can.

You will.

What happened?

I'll tell you later.
We're going back.

[choreographer]
'One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven and repeat.'

'One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight.'

'Now, the high jump.'

'Ready. And one, two, three'

'four, five, six,
seven and forward.'

Next group of finalists,
please.

Hang on,
just one minute.

Hold it. Hold it,
just one minute.

- Get them out of here.
- Hi, how you doing?

It's nice to see you.
Hi, how's it going?

Sorry to barge in like this.
I'm sorry to barge in like this.

Actually, I'm not. 'Cause I got
something great to show you'

I think you missed.
Her name is Rosemarie Lemon.

- 'One "M".'
- Hey, fella, look--

Excuse me. I'm talking.

Could I please have
the floor for a minute?

You're Paul Janssen.

'Mr. Janssen, it's a
pleasure to meet you.'

'My name's Drew Rothman.'

And I am managing
this beautiful dancer here.

'She had her chance.'

No, no, no, Paul, I really
don't think so, see..

Rose's a real special girl
and you gotta audition her

in a kind of a different way,
you know what I mean?

She was auditioned like
everybody else.

Oh, I understand that.
What's your name?

- Jerry.
- Jerry, listen.

Let's just keep it
friendly okay?

See, Rosemarie couldn't hear
what Jerry told her before

because Rosemarie
can't hear. She's deaf.

But that doesn't matter,
that doesn't matter at all.

Now, Jerry.

Why don't you show Rosemarie,
what you wanna do again, okay?

Only this time, make sure
you're looking directly

at her when
tell her, okay?

It's no big thing, there's
nothing to it you can handle it.

One more thing.

Just one more little favor,
okay, Mr. Janssen.

Why don't you and your
assistant come on down here

and sit in the front row, it's a
much better view from down here.

Alright.

These are great seats, the best
in the house, you'll love it.

What are you,
ah, doing now?

Just one
more adjustment.

So, Rosemarie..

...can feel..

...the vibrations.

Do you know
the combination?

There are two eights
of chain steps.

Two eights.

There are three eights of
the contraction combination.

Now, I have different steps
so don't follow me.

You were following me
before, don't follow me.

Jerry, turn up
the volume.

[dance music]

Two, three, four.

[music continues]

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

- 'Where's the music?'
- Let's do one more, okay?

Remember?

♪ Clocks in the parking lot ♪

♪ Watching the time ♪

♪ Watch on a steeplechase ♪

♪ Starting to chime ♪

♪ Timepiece is holding ♪

♪ My life in their hands ♪

♪ Always remind me ♪

♪ Behind me ♪

♪ Behind me ♪

♪ But I ♪

♪ Will always ♪

♪ Wait for you ♪

♪ Take my time ♪

♪ And count on you ♪

♪ Some how I know ♪

♪ I'll make it through ♪

♪ Until I feel you ♪

♪ Until I hear you ♪

♪ Until I see you ♪

♪ Second hand sweeping ♪

♪ Our minutes to trial ♪

♪ Taking the future ♪

♪ Away on the dial ♪

♪ But I'm not afraid ♪

♪ I'll be late for a while ♪

♪ The future ♪

♪ Surrounds me ♪

♪ The moment has found me ♪

♪ And I will always ♪

♪ Be with you ♪

♪ Take my time ♪

♪ And count on you ♪

♪ Some how I know ♪

♪ We'll make it through ♪

♪ Now that I feel you ♪

♪ Now that I see you ♪

♪ Now that I hear you ♪

[melodic music]

[music continues]