Genius (2017–…): Season 3, Episode 3 - Aretha: Do Right Woman - full transcript

Previously on Genius.

I'm going to call
it the Freedom March.

We going to make change happen
because we going to demand it.

It'd be the biggest
freedom march in history.

You know, a man like Dr. King
really should have his own march.

I mean that would
really get a turn out.

You're a wonderkind,
a wonder child.

We go back on the road
I'm going to take you with me.

She ain't old enough
to travel on Gospel Circuit.

I'm here with my daughter,
Aretha Louise.

She will come up on this
stage and sing for the very



first time on this
Gospel Circuit.

Try this, it's sweet.

You want to dance?

My tummy's been feeling
sick and my monthly hasn't come.

Well, how long has it been?

Four months.

The road is a wild place, Mom.

I wanted her to stay home.

This is not going to stop you
from what you were meant to do.

You think you can
manage her better than me?

We can both manage her, Ted.

She's going places.

The people of Chicago,

people of the world
herby crown you...



the Queen of Soul.

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. ♪

♪ Show me the way to get to Soulville,
baby. ♪

♪ Show me the way to go home ♪♪

Aretha!

Ms. Franklin, Ms. Franklin.

Your music has saved my life.

Thank you so
much for coming to my show.

Would you like me to
sign anything for you?

Oh no, thank you.

It's enough just to
shake your hand.

You're so
sweet. Thank you so much.

Ms. Franklin,
can you sign my album.

Ms. Franklin.

Back it up. Back up!

I didn't do nothing.
What are you doing, man?

That's not necessary. That's
not necessary. That's not necessary!

That isn't necess...

What's going to happen to him?

Shh,
I'm right here. I'm right here baby.

Settle down.

Hungry?

No?

Big Momma,
he won't stop fussing.

Well, did you check his diaper?

Um...

I'm not a good mother, am I?

Nah,
you're good. You're beautiful, wonderful.

Look at mommy.

We're here.

Could you guys please be quiet,
I'm trying to read.

Is that who I
think it is out there?

Powder blue!

Yes indeed, yes indeed.

Yes, sir. Brother Cleveland.

All the way from Chicago.

Oh, come on in here.

This is my mother here,
Mrs. Rachel.

Mrs. Rachel.

Oh,
Mrs. Rachel, afternoon, ma'am.

Such a pleasure to meet you.

Nice to meet you, too.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Oh,
and this young lady must little Re.

Uh‐huh, yeah,
I done heard a lot about you.

That's my grand‐baby, Clarence.

Oh, no, sweetheart.

I don't have a knack for that.

Momma, Reverend James
is gonna be our new choir director.

- Oh, nice. - Mm‐hmm, mm‐hmm.

And momma,
I just found he ain't got nowhere to stay.

He's going to be staying
with us for a while.

He going to be staying with us?

Until he find a place.

Ah,
I hear there's a little star in you.

I haven't played
too much since having the baby.

Well,
it's time to start playing again.

Brother, you must be hungry. So,
Momma, come on.

We got to get him
something to eat.

Hold on, hold on.

- I
- sure can go for something myself.

What you got?

- I'm coming.
- You know I got you.

Oh,
nice and golden fried chicken.

You don't
know nothing about my chicken.

You gonna sock it to me?

No, don't you cut my...

A 10:00
PM to 6:00 AM curfew will be enforced

in a third of the city
as the rioting continues.

I'm worried, Daddy.

It's calm right here in,
in New York right now but it's

only a matter of time before
the madness comes here

and to Detroit too.

Some of the young
people in the congregation are

especially agitated,
you know, I preach peace.

But if the people want to riot,

they gonna riot.

And if things get out of hand,

I've got my gun.

Please don't say that,
especially around the kids.

I'll keep everybody safe, Re.

You take care of yourself.

All right. Bye, Daddy.

Uh‐uh.

They put a crown on my head,
and you punched me in my face.

Things got out
of hand for both of us.

I'm sorry. I'm
cleaning up my act.

Well, until you can prove
that you can keep sleeping on the couch.

- Come on now,
baby. - Have you lost your mind?

Look, don't let that
"Queen" stuff get to your head.

I'm going to let that
"Queen" thing go wherever I want it to.

I'm tired of sleeping
on this damn couch.

Shh, Dr. King is on.

A lot of
us are looking at these images on TV

of people, negros, fighting the
police and wondering how is thi

going to make things better?

Well, what we don't
see on our TVs is how the fighting started.

If a peaceful person has
violence inflicted upon him,

unfortunately,
violence is often the result.

I remember the first time he
came and preached at my daddy's church.

Do you
believe in the power of nonviolence?

I believe
that physical force is best

met with the power of the soul.

I would ask people of all races
to ask themselves how can

I help and how
can I be of service?

He's right.
I want to be of service.

You going to be an activist now?

How you going to fit that
into your busy schedule?

How I fit it in my
schedule ain't your business.

But I'm going to
find something to do.

♪ I love you I love you ♪

♪ I love you too ♪

♪ Baby won't you
call me the moment ♪

♪ You get there ♪♪

You liking it?

It's too easy.

Uh, let me call you back. Okay,
thank you, uh‐huh.

There's no longing and pain.

People are fighting
and dying out there,

I don't feel none
of that in this.

Well, maybe that's
just cause you're holding back.

Aretha,
you've got to put some of you in there.

Come on.

I think I can help.

Listen to this.

Stop.

Thank you, fellas. Thank you.

Hey, hey, hey,
what's going on with you?

You watch the news?

Yeah, what's on the news
doesn't stop me from doing my job.

You see Dr. King
on The Bachman Show?

Yeah.

I want to go on there,
sing something.

He's going to want an interview.

I'll do it.

Could be good to lend my voice,
right?

Sure, right, yeah.

Put down
whatever you're drinking.

It is time for champagne.

What are we celebrating?

"Baby I Love You" just
went number one on the R&B charts.

Hey! Congratulations.

Thank you. But I
don't feel very much like a party.

What? Aretha.

Ms. Franklin?

♪ Bah‐da bah‐da‐da‐da ♪

♪ Bah‐da bah‐da‐da‐da ♪

♪ Monday, Monday ♪

♪ bah‐da bah‐da‐da‐da ♪

♪ So good to me ♪

♪ Bah‐da bah‐da‐da‐da ♪

♪ Monday mornin',
it was all I hoped it would be ♪♪

Excuse me.

Now, what does a brother
have to do to get a beautiful

woman like you
to sign right here.

You need to
tell me what I'm signing.

Can I at least
tell you my name first?

Mm‐hmm. I'm Nat.

Like the rebel?

You're smart and beautiful.

Okay, I see.

What are you canvasing for?

Well,
I'm working to establish a new chapter of

Dr. King's Operation
Breadbasket here in New York City.

He was a guest at my
family's house when I was younger.

Wait a minute.
You're Aretha Franklin.

Shh. Don't tell everyone here.

What is "The Queen
of Soul" doing out here?

A little breath of fresh air,

hoping to find a way
to make a difference.

Maybe I can help you
hand out some flyers.

Absolutely. Here you go.

- What should I say?
- Just speak from the heart.

Here you go.

Oh, I'll take one.

Oh, absolutely, sister. There
you go. Come on, let's make a change.

Here you go.

Here you go.

You're getting the
hang of it. There you go.

Thank you so much.

Everybody's voice matters.

Would you like to take a flyer?

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you so much. Hey,
we could use your vote.

♪ Hold on, I'm coming ♪♪

Any help you can give is appreciated,
thank you.

♪ Hold on, I'm coming ♪♪

There you go. Look at you.

Sir, would you take a flyer?

Thank you so much.

Ms. Franklin. I
thought I'd find you here.

We need to get going.

Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah.

You know this guy?

Jerry Wexler, this is Nat.

Nat, this is...

This is the guy who's got a
studio full of musicians waiting on her.

It was very nice to meet you,
would you excuse us please?

Would you excuse us?

I can't wait to tell everyone I
met the most beautiful woman

and it ended up
being Aretha Franklin.

It was nice to meet you.

Stop the war in Vietnam.

Pleasure was mine.

The Vietnamese are people too!

We really do need to get going.

Stop the war in Vietnam!

Feels like the world is
ending and I just can't sit by and watch.

So, you hand out flyers?

It's something.

It is. It's honorable work.

But right now,
we need you in the studio focused.

- You're right. - I am?

I need to go
where I can reach most people.

Not people, war on poverty!

Not people, war on poverty!

♪ I love you ♪

♪ And I love you ♪

♪ And I love you too ♪

♪ Baby will you call
me the moment ♪

♪ You get there ♪

♪ Hey, baby ♪

♪ Mmm‐hmm ♪

♪ I know, I know,
I know I know ♪

♪ We've gone too far. ♪

♪ Baby, baby, baby,
baby, baby, baby, baby ♪

♪ It really doesn't
hurt me that bad ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Because you're
taking me with you ♪

♪ I'm keeping you right
a‐here in my heart ♪

♪ It's all because I love you ♪

♪ And I love you ♪♪

Yeah, darling.

You see how I'm putting
grease on them cords?

I see, I see.

You see,
I take the sound in through

my ear and let it flow
throughout my whole body.

Yeah. I let it work me,
put my back into it.

Then I dig in.

Yes, yeah.

You got to go head‐to‐head
with these keys,

you see me wrestling with it?

I see.

Uh‐huh.

Here we go!

Yeah, now we feeling it.

Woo!

Thank you my darling.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Which music you like better,
gospel or pop?

Do I gotta choose?

You know,
gospel folks think that pop is sinful.

My daddy
likes all types of music.

Yeah,
there ain't many preachers like your daddy.

I want you to come
out on the road with us this summer.

On the Gospel Circuit?

We could be friends.

I didn't have a
friend last time.

Maybe.

Let's see what
you got on the keys.

Mm‐hmm.

- A - round of applause for

Ms. Aretha Franklin, everybody.

After our break,

we'll return with more of
The Alan Bachman Show.

You're doing great. Need
me to go back out there with you?

No. You wanted to do this.

That doesn't make it any easier.

Look, you'll be fine.

He'll want to hear about the
new record and then he'll ask

you some softball questions
about the movement.

What was I thinking?

Just say whatever's
on your mind and then if that

doesn't work,
talk about the new record.

Need a little help?

No. I need to stay focused.

You got this.

Thank you,
that was wonderful Aretha.

They named you
"The Queen of Soul".

Did they give you a crown?

They did, Allen, but I
only wear it on official state business.

You've been performing
a lot of sold out shows.

You must be making
a lot of money.

Oh, a lady never tells.

Things are getting pretty
hot in your hometown of Detroit,

and I'm not just talking
about the weather.

There have been a lot of riots
across the country this summer,

some people are
saying that Detroit is next.

Well, I hope not.

Some people think that
things are better for the negro

now then they've been,
let's say, a few years ago.

Can you explain the
reason for the riots?

Well, what I wanted
to say that I agree with Dr. King.

I think that now is the
time for love and healing.

We've heard a lot
from Dr. King these days.

And your music has certainly
touched a lot of people.

You've sold millions of records;

do you feel pressure as
a successful singer to do

something about what's going on?

Not pressure, opportunity.

I could do more which is
exactly what I'm planning to do.

We love you, Aretha.

Today
marks the fourth day of escalating riots,

looting, and arson in Detroit.

Daddy, is everybody okay?

We okay.

How's the church?

The worst is over
but come home as soon as you can.

I'm flying in tonight. Bye,
Daddy.

An entire
neighborhood has been leveled by fire.

♪ There's a train a comin' ♪

♪ You don't need no baggage ♪

♪ You just get on board ♪

♪ All you need is faith ♪

♪ To hear the diesel's hummin' ♪

♪ You don't need no ticket ♪

♪ You just thank the lord ♪♪

Baby, it looks like Brother
Wallace is going to pull through.

They done put him in a room
where the family could visit.

- Was he shot? - By the police.

How's Sister Boyd's son?

He didn't make
it. Cecil talked to him.

How can I
help? What do they need?

They need help
paying they hospital bills,

funeral expenses.

We need to help people,

raise some money
so they could rebuild.

You've got tour dates coming up.

I'll cancel them.

You going to tell Ruth that?

I'll work around them,
it's not important.

This is important.

I couldn't agree with you more.

You could preach, Daddy.

I could sing.

We could ask other people.

People would help
Detroit because of you.

Then let's do that.

But first,
let's get going on this.

We've got to help
our people here.

Look,
I'll be with you in a minute.

All right. My
ankle is starting to swell.

Much appreciated.

Y'all better listen to Dr. King,

now he's got a lot to say.

Thank you, Mother Franklin.

Dr. King,
it is a pleasure and an honor

to have you in our home.

Well,
thank you. Pleasure's all mine.

Momma,
can I have a little more sugar?

Thank you.

Reverend? Yes, sir.

You truly resurrected
the spirit of Detroit tonight.

Thank God, thank God.

And Ms. Franklin,
I'm impressed to see you here.

I know you're busy the
way your career's going.

Well, I live in New York,

but Detroit will
always be my home.

I try to make sure she comes
back to Detroit whenever she can.

And if you ever need
something done in Detroit,

everyone knows to call
on Reverend CL Franklin.

Come on now, come on now.

I wish I could
have come earlier but the

Southern Christian
Leadership Conference

has been struggling financially.

They've been telling me
the best way to raise money

is to hold benefit concerts.

So, been hitting the road
with the likes of Harry Belafonte

and Joan Baez
just to name a few.

I'd like to join your tour,
Dr. King.

We'd love to have you.

I'll clear my schedule, too.

I don't want to pull you
away from Detroit, Reverend.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

I think what Dr. King is saying
is that he only needs singers to help.

Well, Detroit needs its favorite
daughter now more than ever.

But with Dr. King I
could reach so many more people.

Your daughter
would draw a crowd.

That would be
quite a boon for us.

We actually would
love to make this happen.

We just got to
review the schedule.

The schedule's
grueling as it is.

You don't want to spread yourself too thin,
baby.

Normally, I'd agree.

But your daughter's a star of
international prominence and

that comes with a
certain responsibility.

Come on, Daddy.

There's enough
of me to go around.

If Dr. King thinks it's best then,
well, of course.

And if you need me in Detroit,
I'll be here.

The SCLC is having
our annual banquet soon.

Surely you can join us then.

Well,
I'll show up wherever I'm invited.

How about I join you
all for the next couple of weeks?

Amen. That'd be beautiful.

♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪

♪ Over the hills
and everywhere ♪

♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪

♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪♪

Yeah, that's my girl.

That's right.

She's signing a lot
better than she did last year.

She's more used
to the environment now,

that's what it is.

Yeah. Yeah.

Your daughter,
I tell you she's a,

she's a baby singer
if I ever heard one.

And you can really bring in the crowd,
Rev.

I see you adding
some extra chairs over here.

We just sold a few more
tickets than I thought we would, so.

Pay me more, huh?

We already,
already agreed on your fee.

The word of God has no price,

but I know you charging
for them extra chairs.

You good?

Yeah.

♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪

♪ Oh‐oh ♪

♪ Over the hills
and everywhere ♪♪

If I feel taken advantage of,

I might have to cancel
the show right now.

I'll tell you what,
there ain't no need for that.

I'll just, I'll tell you,
I'll just make the proper adjustments.

That's what I want to hear.

Appreciate it.

♪ Everywhere ♪

♪ Go tell it on the mountain ♪

♪ That Jesus Christ is born ♪♪

Let your light shine, yes.

♪ Jesus Christ is born ♪♪

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Baby, baby. That's right.

Come here,
girl. There's my girl.

You glad to be back on the tour?

Mm‐hmm.

That's right, come on.

That's right, that's right.

There they go.

Come on choir, come on choir.

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

Thank you, Jesus.

You just heard my
daughter Aretha.

Now,
we've been up waiting for this all week.

No, don't take your seats.

Get up on your feets.

Don't take your seats,
get up on your feets.

Because what
you've been waiting for,

all the way from Greenwood,
Mississippi.

The one,
the only Mrs. Sammie Bryant.

♪ I got a robe ♪

♪ You got a robe ♪

♪ All of God's
children got a robe ♪

♪ When I get to heaven ♪

♪ I'm gonna put on my robe ♪

♪ I'm shout all over
God's Heaven ♪

♪ Heaven, Heaven ♪♪

What you mean
you left your baby at home?

He's just so precious. Aw!

He look just like you,
Re, especially around the eyes.

He sure does.

♪ I got a wings ♪

♪ You got a wings ♪

♪ All of God's
children got wings ♪

♪ When I get to heaven ♪

♪ I'm gonna put on my wings ♪

♪ I'm gonna fly all
over God's Heaven ♪♪

Now,
who you say his daddy was again?

Yeah, who is the daddy?

♪ Everybody talkin'
'bout Heaven ♪

♪ Aint' going there ♪

♪ Heaven, Heaven ♪

♪ I'm gonna fly all
over God's Heaven ♪♪

I better put the picture away.

Give it back, Darlene.

Let me see.

Ya'll keep your hands off of
other people's' precious things.

Come on, Re.

Let's go.

Girl, let's get away from them.

Re, honey,
you don't need to pay them gals no mind.

I know you was raised
to respect your elders,

but you don't need to give
them mean gals the time of day.

I'll remember that.

Next time they come for you,
look for me.

Cause I'm going
to look out for you.

I knew your mother;

she had that same shine you got.

She'd be proud of you.

I don't think Momma
would be proud of me having a baby.

If your momma was around
that baby wouldn't have happened.

Is the father helping?

You ain't got to tell me who he is,
all I want to know is,

is he helping?

It's all right, Sammie.

You don't have
to worry about me.

What do you
like to do for fun when you

not on the road?

Roller skate,
listen to the radio.

Have you heard that
song Loveable by Dale Cooke?

You don't know?

There's no such
thing as Dale Cooke.

It's Sam Cooke
using a pretend name.

So,
he can get away with singing pop music?

No!

Sam Cooke is a gospel singer.

Ain't no way he going to be
going around singing no pop music.

I'd know his voice anywhere.

He used to sing
at Daddy's church.

Oh,
if folks found out they would pitch a fit.

Folks like
Darlene and her friends?

They would say
he's singing that devil's music

and run him out
of town on the rail.

Would you?

If Sam Cooke was singing, ooh,

the minute he start to sweat,
I start fanning myself.

Stick with me and I'll
show you a good time.

He's something else.

Hey! Get down on the ground.

Get back on that bus, you coon.

No one wants you here.

Get out of
here you dirty monkeys.

This is America not Africa.

We love you, Aretha.

Brownie,
get the hell out of here.

Niggers.

Aretha, we love you!

Take your devil
music somewhere else.

Stay strong, sister.

Y'all better watch
it there's some niggers comin'.

Go to hell you chocolate baby.

Ya'll a bunch of monkeys.

You're a dead man, King.

Dr. King, you all right?

Fine, fine.

You know,
when my son was a baby,

I carried him on my back in
the fields while I was working.

We were sharecroppers.

So, I want to thank you because
I never thought I'd see this day.

Thank you, Mother Franklin.

I needed to hear that.

♪ There's an old friend that ♪

♪ I once heard say ♪

♪ Something that
touched my heart ♪♪

Sing your song!

♪ And it began this way ♪♪

Come on! Come on Aretha!

♪ I was born by the river ♪♪

Yes sir!

♪ In a little tent ♪♪

That's it, sing!

♪ And just like the river ♪

♪ I've been runnin ever since ♪♪

C'mon girl!

♪ He said it's been
a long time comin' ♪

♪ But I know my
change is gonna come ♪

♪ Oh yeah ♪

♪ He said it's been
too hard livin' ♪

♪ But I'm afraid to die ♪♪

Take your time!

♪ I might not be if I knew ♪

♪ What was up there ♪

♪ Beyond the sky ♪♪

C'mon!

♪ It's been a long,
a long time comin' ♪

♪ But I know my change
is gonna come ♪♪

Yes, it will. Yes, it will.

♪ Oh yeah ♪♪

♪ I went, ♪

♪ I went to my brother ♪

♪ And I asked him, brother ♪

♪ Could you help me, please? ♪♪

Yeah yeah.

What'd he say,
what'd he say Aretha?

♪ He said, "My sister ♪

♪ I'd like to,
but I'm not able" ♪

♪ And when I ♪

♪ When I looked around ♪

♪ I was right back down ♪

♪ Down on my bended knees ♪

♪ Yes I was, oh ♪

♪ There've been
times that I thought ♪

♪ I thought that I
wouldn't last for long ♪♪

Sing girl!

♪ But somehow right
now I believe that I'm able ♪

♪ I'm able to carry on ♪

♪ I tell you that
it's been a long ♪

♪ And oh ♪

♪ I's been an uphill
journey all the way ♪

♪ But I know ♪

♪ I know, I know ♪♪

I know. I know.

♪ I know my change
is gonna come ♪

♪ Yeah I tell you that ♪

♪ My change is come ♪

Change is coming.

We need a change;
we need a change.

Thank you.

Hallelujah

Having trouble sleeping?

A little.

Ted snores and I've got to be on
the road first thing in the morning,

so I figured I'd just stay up.

I know that trick.

You sang really
beautifully tonight.

Sam Cooke song
was a good choice.

I appreciate you
coming on the road,

traveling, and performing,

and taking care of some
of our transportation costs.

You're quite generous.

It's the least I can do.

Turns out, Daddy doesn't
want to be on the road with us.

It's because he has
his own flock to attend to.

And he wants me to come home.

He and the mayor are organizing
an event that he wants me to attend.

Having a preacher
for a father is a blessing.

But it comes with
its challenges.

He took you out of the Gospel
Circuit when you were quite young.

Yes, he did. I learned a lot.

Those gals teach
you how to wear the fur coat?

Well, these hotels
like to keep the air way up and

I don't like to be cold.

Well,
I'm going to Chicago tomorrow.

How about you?

Columbus.

You know, you're about the
only person that I know that

is busier than I am.

Coretta and the
children must miss you.

I miss them too.

Is your husband,
Ted, a good man?

I used to lean on
him a lot more than I do now.

It's easier for a woman
to be the helpmate of king than

it is for a man to be
the helpmate of a queen.

I don't think it is easy at all.

Shall we have a toast to that?

Yes, please.

Once you get to
Columbus you have a radio promo

at 7:00 AM and then you
have press interviews until noon.

Then you have a store
appearance until 2:00 PM.

After that,
we go straight to sound check.

There's no time for the hotel,
you okay with that?

We'll make it work.

You get enough sleep last night?

I'll get some sleep
in the car on the way there.

In the car, good luck.

I'll get a
couple drinks to help.

Can I see the set list?

Here you go, sweetie.

Martin, I think you should
take it easy on that Vietnam issue.

I'll say what I have to say.

But where we're
going isn't Riverside Church.

These folks are
more conservative.

If I don't talk about it,
who will?

Also, I hate to bring this up,

but Jerry called
again about the studio.

We got to get back to him.

I'm going to
be on tour for six months.

But aren't you
going to Philadelphia?

I'll do that,
too. I'll do it all.

I'll see you in Philadelphia.

I'll be there.

♪ Little Mama I
took your lovin' ♪

♪ But I wasn't true to you ♪

♪ Little mama ♪♪

We've been to Louisville,
Bowling Green,

Shelbyville,
and Jackson to name a few.

Bet you glad you
left that baby home.

Having fun now.

Girl, you can sing and dance.

Look at you shimmy,
go ahead and sing it, girl.

Little Re, little Re.

Girl, you was right.

Sam Cooke is singing pop
music and he's performing in town

tonight at a local juke joint.

We going.

I'm only 13.

I can't get into that place.

Girl, let me worry about that.

Let's go.

Come on, we going to do it all.

We going to get
you all dolled up.

To top it off.

All right, oh, shoot.

I didn't know you was all that,

a hard partying girl.

I didn't know you was like that,

I thought you was
a good church girl.

Come on, let's get in here.

Hold up,
we gotta go to bed it's.

Where you all going?

It's late.

Only place you all
should be going is to bed.

We going to bed.

Girl, let's go.

We get to see Sam Cooke tonight!

I'm so excited.

Ladies and gentlemen,

let's take your seats
for the Queen of Soul.

Ms. Aretha Franklin.

Now, you was up way too
late last night, you know that, right?

Hello, Columbus.

I'm feeling so good
tonight. How y'all feeling?

Broken in three places?

How long that thing
going to be on her arm?

It's on track to
heal in four weeks, maybe six.

You're burning the
candle at both ends.

My advice is for
you to slow down.

This could have
been a lot worse.

You should have been
keeping your eye on her.

I was, all right.

Now's not the time, Daddy.

I need to go back on tour.

You need to
stay home in Detroit.

He right.

I'm going to tell Ruth
to cancel the dates.

I can still sing;
I just can't play piano.

You need to stay home,
get some rest.

I'm cooking up a big event
for you with the mayor's office.

If I do anything, I'm going
to honor my promise with Dr. King.

You can't risk your health for him,
baby.

I'm fine.

I just can't play,
right, Doctor?

No.

Whatever you do,
my advice is to slow down.

You hear?

I don't use my arm to sing.

I understand that,

but you need to
minimize movements.

You got lucky this time.

One more fall or
injury to that arm and

you may never play piano again.

No, no, come on. Stupid,
I'll be right back.

Like a rockstar.

Oh, oh, okay guys.

Quit messing around,
let's get ready.

I can't get it.

Come on here,
let me show you something.

Come here, you dig?

Your arm still hurting?

Only when it's cold out.

They getting someone
to play the piano at the event?

They got someone
to accompany me tonight.

Good.

Boy,
I thought I taught you how to tie a tie.

Come here.

I forgot.

Okay, now.

You're going to wrap
this big part around here,

you're going to
tuck it in and under,

and then tighten the knot.

Got that?

- Clarence.
- Here I come.

Put this on, keep it clean.

Thank you, Momma.

All right, I better not
hear y'all yelling and squirming.

None of that in the theater,
okay, this your momma big day.

You hear me?

- Yes, Daddy. - All right.

Baby, what you going to wear?

Still thinking
about it. Y'all gotta vote.

Yeah, girl,
we'll help you pick out the outfit.

Let's see what we got.

Unless you want to be
up on stage in front of all

those people in just your slip.

Now,
I always been partial to the lime green.

I like the feathers.
Wear the feathers, Momma.

You look good in green.

Feathers, feathers,
feathers, feathers, feathers, feathers!

♪ It aint no fooling
around with this ♪

♪ Aint no fooling around

As Mayor of Detroit,

I hereby proclaim February
16th as "Aretha Franklin Day".

♪ Some people call me selfish
cause I want ya to myself ♪♪

Look at us both sneaking out.

Maybe they won't miss us.

They're going to
wonder where we went.

I appreciate you
coming to celebrate my special day.

Wouldn't have
missed it for the world.

I'm going back
into the studio in a few months.

I'd love it if you'd come record
some of your sermons on my album.

Really? Mm‐hmm.

I'm flattered.

Dr. King and the Queen of Soul.

But I wouldn't want to cause
any problems between you

and your father.

Don't you worry about that.

Oh, I see what you do.

Between your father and your husband,
you make it all work.

Do I?

I know you've heard me
speak probably more times than

you care to over the
past many months.

But every time I talk about
freedom for our people,

I'm also talking about
freedom of the mind,

psychological freedom.

To achieve what we
want to as a people,

we need to start with
personal freedom.

Where did the bone break?

Uh, here was the worst of it.

I felt like a bird
with a broken wing.

There you are.

Ya'll done snuck out the party.

Come on, let's go back in.

Do you want folks to think you
chose Dr. King over your own father?

Come on.

I'll be in, in a minute.

All right, thank you, Doc.

Get well now, cause we need you.

And he gave you his jacket!

Only because he
knows me from when he used to

come sing at Daddy's church.

But the way he
was singing tonight,

he never sang like that before.

You think I could
be a pop singer?

Sam Cooke sure think you can be.

And then I'll
throw my coat on the ground,

just like he does.

Oh, you better pick
that up or I'm going to take it.

He never
sang like that in church.

And he never looked
that way in church.

If I married him
it'd be Sam and Sammie.

Ooh.

Where the hell you been?

Oh, you grown now,
huh, you grown.

It's my fault,
Reverend Franklin.

Re didn't even want to go
out but I talked her into it.

Did I ask you
for your explanation?

Go on back in your room and let me
have a conversation with my daughter.

Go on now.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Daddy.

Went to a juke joint, huh?

You're 13.

I wanted to
see Sam Cooke perform.

I asked you to stay inside.

I was just listening to music.

Oh,
you fixing to get in trouble,

that's what you doing now.

Now,
I'm going to send you back home.

No!

You need to be with
the baby you have rather than

be out here trying
to have another one.

Now, take that jacket off.

Give me that jacket.

And what,
what you got on your lips?

Come here.

Go on and get inside now, go on.

Hey,
little Re. I heard you had a late night.

I hope you don't
mess up your song.

Mrs. Johnson.

Evening, Reverend Franklin.

Mm‐hmm. Reverend.

Please don't make me go home.

- Well, why you want to stay?
- I want to keep singing.

Hmm.

Would Sam's jacket help?

Yes.

I bet it would.

Come on.

You better put this thing on.

Turn around, let me see you.

All right.

You better sang, baby singer.

Oh, this going to be good.

All right.

Ya'll about to hear the

little girl who is starting to
be the baby singer of our tour.

Yeah! Oh, yeah!

You ready? You ready?

Put your hands together and
welcome Little Miss Aretha Franklin.

That girl can sing.

Take your time, take your time.

♪ Just ♪

♪ Just a closer
walk with Thee ♪♪

Yes sir, yes sir, yes sir.

♪ Grant it, Jesus, ♪

♪ Is my plea ♪♪

Oh yes, oh Lord. Jesus.

Call his name.

♪ Daily walking ♪

♪ Close to Thee ♪

♪ Let it be ♪

♪ Dear Lord ♪

♪ Let it be ♪♪

Come on, come on. Come on.

♪ Let it be ♪

♪ I am weak but
Thou art strong ♪♪

That's right.

♪ Jesus keep me from all wrong ♪

♪ I'll be satisfied as long ♪

♪ As I walk ♪

♪ Let me walk ♪

♪ Close to Thee ♪

♪ When my feeble life is o'er ♪♪

Sing it, girl.

♪ Time for me will be no more ♪

♪ Guide me gently ♪

♪ Safely o'er ♪

♪ To Thy kingdom's shore ♪

♪ To Thy shore ♪

♪ Just a closer walk with Thee

♪ Grant it ♪

♪ Jesus, is my plea ♪♪

Yes, sir.

♪ Daily walking
close with Thee ♪

♪ Let it be ♪

♪ Dear Lord ♪

♪ Let it be ♪♪

Yes, sir! That's right!

Martin Luther King was shot

and was killed tonight in Memphis,
Tennessee.

In this difficult day,

in this difficult time
for the United States,

it is perhaps well to
ask what kind of a nation

we are and what direction
we want to move in.

For those of you who are
black considering the evidence

there evidently is that
there were white people

who were responsible,
you can be filled with bitterness,

and with hatred,
and a desire for revenge.

We can move in that
direction as a country,

and greater polarization,

or we can make an effort
as Martin Luther King did,

to understand and to comprehend,

and replace that violence,

that stain of bloodshed that
has spread across our land

with an effort to understand
compassion and love.

I had a member of my family killed
but he was killed by a white man.

But we have to make an
effort in the United States.

We have to make an
effort to understand,

to get beyond or go beyond
these rather difficult times.

My favorite poem,
my favorite poet was Aeschylus.

He once wrote

"Even in our sleep,
pain which cannot forget,

falls drop by drop upon the heart until,
in our own despair

against our will, comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God.

What we need in the
United States is not division.

What we need in the
United States is not hatred.

What we need in the
United States is not violence

and lawlessness.

But love and wisdom,
and compassion toward one another,

and a feeling of justice
toward those who still suffer

within our country,

whether they be white
or whether they be black.