Treme (2010–2013): Season 1, Episode 4 - At the Foot of Canal Street - full transcript

I miss them too.
I miss our routine.

You're not gonna find out
who you have in your custody?

Now he might not be
your David Brooks,

But he sure as hell's
my David Brooks.

She put that
on the Internet?

Anybody can put
anything up on there.

Isn't that cool?

What you doing, boy?
You stealing from me?

I wasn't stealing,
man, I swear.

- You some kin to poke, right?
- An old friend.

Well, I noticed you
workin' on his bar



And I was wondering if you
had some work for my nephew.

- That was Tom Mcdermott.
- Terrific.

I have a private gig

And I could use a fiddle
on a couple tunes.

They gonna
bulldozer all of it.

- That's why you need to come back.
- Oh, Jesus!

Wild man Jesse's dead.
I found the body.

They knocked
one of my teeth loose.

Might mess with my embouchure.

- Why did you get beat?
- I was walking.

I bumped into
a cop car with my horn.

Next thing, I got
two cops whalin' on me.

Without that horn
I can't make a living.

Silencio.



- No más.
- ¿No más?

Sí, no más. Ya.
No me oíste. Dhuh. E en Paz.

- Nurse?
- Edward Bocage?

- Nurse?
- Right here.

- Come on back, sir.
- Oh, but no. Nuh-uh.

Excuse me.
I was here before him.

You need to wait
your turn, sir.

It was my turn.

- Easy, bro.
- Go ahead.

One or two e.R.S in
the whole damn city.

What you gonna do, huh?

Verdad.

Yeah. Verdad.

Dr.
Wasserman, call your service.

Dr. Wasserman,
call your service.

♪ I went down ♪

♪ to touro ♪

♪ infirmary... ♪

Nurse?

♪ my baby ♪

♪ left me there... ♪

♪ my hair's gone gray ♪

♪ waitin' on this doctor... ♪

♪ sittin' in this ♪

♪ stone-hard chair... ♪

♪ now if I die--
that's "if" I die ♪

♪ please bury me ♪

♪ with my mouthpiece ♪

♪ and my 'bone... ♪

♪ as I roam this whole
wide world over ♪

♪ but New Orleans... ♪

♪ Is still my home. ♪

Ha yeah!

♪ hangin' in the treme ♪

♪ watching people sashay ♪

♪ past my steps ♪

♪ by my porch ♪

♪ in front of my door ♪

♪ church bells
are ringin' ♪

♪ choirs are singing ♪

♪ while the preachers groan ♪

♪ and the sisters moan ♪

♪ in a blessed tone ♪

- ♪ mmm-hmm ♪
- ♪ Yeah ♪

♪ down in the treme ♪

♪ just me and my baby ♪

♪ we're all going crazy ♪

♪ while jamming
and having fun ♪

♪ trumpet Bel ringing ♪

♪ bass drum is swinging ♪

♪ as the trombone groans ♪

♪ and the big horn moans ♪

♪ and there's a saxophone ♪

♪ down in the treme ♪

♪ it's me and my baby ♪

♪ we're all going crazy ♪

♪ while jamming
and having fun ♪

♪ down in the treme ♪

♪ it's me and my baby ♪

♪ we're all going crazy ♪

♪ while jamming
and having fun. ♪

Whoo!

I know all about
the wind-storm deductible.

What I'm talking about
is right and wrong.

Now I've been making
premium payments to you people

- For 34 years.
- And we appreciate your loyalty.

And we're honoring the terms
of our agreement with you.

The hell you are.

We determined that the primary damage
to your home was caused by the flood.

Well, the hurricane caused
the goddamned flood.

There are varying opinions
as to that, I'm afraid,

Which would be moot if
you'd had flood insurance.

So you're telling me if I had
flood insurance, I'd be covered.

But because I didn't,
you ain't responsible.

I assume you read your policy
carefully before you signed it.

State farm. May I help you?

I know you must
be disappointed.

I'm disappointed for you.

But the policy we have with you

Is clear.

How you get to sleep
at night, man?

I drink.

I did give him the message
and I'm sure he'll be calling.

Dr. Lorenzo, line 4.
Dr. Lorenzo, line 4.

Antoine Batiste?

Thank you, Jesus.

Adios, amigo.

We can take my ride, brother.

Houston?

Man, I don't know.

Rusty's, baby.

Sunday nights are all
about New Orleans.

It's Glen David Andrews and most
of new birth representin', man.

But it's really like
an open-mike kind of thing.

So we get to sit in,
share some of the door.

- You know how it goes.
- What about Annie?

Little shitbox I'm driving, man, we can
barely hold us three and our gear.

I don't know. We're usually down
here on Frenchmen on Sunday nights.

You'd rather be shucking and
jiving in front the apple barrel

For spare change than
throwing it down

At a packed-to-the-rafters
Texas honky-tonk?

It's gonna be a road trip--
an American road trip.

You ever been on one of those?

I read "on the road"...
In English.

- I dug it. - You read the book.
Now live the movie, baby.

It's a big fucking country, man.
I mean, Texas itself, shit.

It's not like Holland or "hamsterdam"
or wherever the fuck you're from.

It's Amsterdam
and it's in Holland.

It's the same place.

- Let me talk to Annie.
- There you go.

♪ may your days be merry ♪

♪ and bright ♪

♪ and may all
your christmasses ♪

♪ be white... ♪

- How's it going?
- Swell.

I spent the day
at temporary evidence

Looking for a trombone
of all things.

Complete chaos--
nothing's catalogued.

- Looks like a--
- Like a storm hit it.

How's it going with you?

You recognize this one?

Sofia glued her
first-grade photo to it.

- That was, what? '96?
- Mmm.

That's a special holiday
I'll always remember.

Cray, have you been out today?

Ehh.

You should get dressed,
take a walk, see some folks, eh?

I'm on break till
the semester starts, honey.

Can't I just hang out at home?

You know, Cray, you could
think of this downtime

As an opportunity.

Weren't you talking about
working on the novel?

I don't know. My fiction seems a bit
inconsequential to me right now.

We all need to work.

I am working.

Aren't you gonna help me here?

Whatever.
Pass the tinsel.

Tinsel? What is this,
1956?

I say you could
change that, Raymond.

Man, it's time for some
q93 up in here.

Putting me to sleep
with that dixieland merde.

Why am I not smelling onions
sautéing happily on the stove?

In fact, why am I not
smelling anything cooking?

Where are my entrees
for table 6?

We have no flame.

I thought entergy came out yesterday
and blew the water out of the line.

They did, but they must have just blown
it down the street to somebody else.

Who called them back out and they
blew it back to me. Fuck me.

When is the city
gonna get this fixed?

I got a packed house tonight.
We are fully committed.

The only thing we can serve
right now is colds.

This is not a deli, Jacques.

People come here,
they want cooked cuisine.

Fire up the butane burners
and set up the chafing dishes.

- My kitchen, my radio, cousin.

Ah, you're my lifeline, baby.

- ♪ here's a toooooo.... ♪
- ♪ Here's a tooooast ♪

♪ to the both of you... ♪

♪ and I hope you find
happiness ♪

♪ baby... ♪

Yeah.

♪ every every every
little thing ♪

♪ every little thing
I try, try to do... ♪

♪ please excuse me ♪

♪ if I seem just
a little bit stunned ♪

♪ but to lose
the one you love ♪

♪ God knows it sure
ain't no fun ♪

♪ guess I'm just
a little... ♪

Just a little overcome.

On stax.
A b-side, no less.

- Ollie and the nightingales.
- Mmm, that's right.

But Ollie Hoskins didn't
sing the vocals on this one.

This here is Tommy Tate.
Sir mack rice brought him in.

- Tommy could do it.
- Oh, yeah.

Mm-hmm.
Tate was a giant.

But you know what?

Most folks don't even
remember his name.

Memphis, new Orleans--
all these deep-fried musicians,

Forgotten or about to be.

Cry a river, you feel the need.

Not gonna get you
back on your feet.

My mouth is fucked up, Ladonna.

Al Hirt never played the same
after he caught that brick

Ridin' with Bacchus
back in the day.

Didn't stop him playing
the next 30 years,

So that's no excuse.

What did that E.R. Doctor say
when he took out your stitches?

Said I got dental issues.

Then this is one of
them bright-side things

'cause you know we got a dentist in the
family gonna charge you next to nothing.

I ain't going all the way to Baton
Rouge to get my teeth fixed.

Larry does good work.
More to the point,

It's an opportunity for you
to see your sons.

You can't work right now anyway,
so you got no excuse this time.

I'm ass broke
and empty-handed.

I mean, I should put
some gifts under their tree.

I'll give you a little
something for presents.

The swift bus is free,
so that ain't no thing.

♪ a little overcome... ♪

Yeah, okay.

All right, then.

Don't just throw any
old name out there, either.

It must be somebody
you really want.

Well, who are your three?

- Beyoncé...
- Oh my God.

...Gabrielle union,

And Janet. I-- I couldn't
pass up Janet.

You are so shallow.

I'm not about the pretty boys.

Oh, yeah?
Who would you pick?

Bernie Williams.

An athlete.
Oh, yeah, you deep.

Nuh-uh. Have you seen him
in an interview?

He is smart, he is sensitive
and he plays guitar.

And you got a thing
for musicians.

Let's see.
Mmm.

Tarell Alvin McCraney--
he will have to be on the list.

Who?

Brilliant brilliant
young brother-- playwright.

We were in
drama school together.

He's gay, but I don't care.
He's on the list.

The game works better if
you use people I heard of.

And why you wasting a pick
on a gay dude,

- I really don't know.
- Whatever.

Who's #3?

McCoy Tyner.

I love that man's music
as much as anyone alive,

But you just wasted
your last pick

On a 70-year-old jazz-man.

- Jazz legend!
- He's 70!

And you do not seem to
understand that the age thing

Works differently for women.
We are about t mind.

And in McCoy Tyner's case,
his very powerful left hand.

Oh, God!

What is this game called again?

"monogamy with exceptions."

You spot anybody on
the shitlist,

You get a free pass
to make a move.

And how are you gonna
play the game

When you're not monogamous
in the first place?

You're not trying to claim that I'm
the only girl you're seeing, are you?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

Well...

Okay then.
"monogamy with exceptions."

Maybe when we cross the river tonight,
Beyoncé will be there waiting for you.

It could happen.
New York is like that.

- 70.
- All right.

I'm guessing that
wasn't a raise.

Severance pay.

A day's pay for
half a day's work.

- Behavior shit?
- Nah, he's straight.

Boy even wears his pants
high up on his waist.

He just can't keep up
with me is all.

Yeah, you're like a bull
on two legs, son.

Ain't many can
keep up with you.

Don't get me wrong.
Boy got a good back.

He just don't like
to tax it, is all.

Yeah, well, he'll learn.

If he want to eat,
he gonna learn.

♪ hoodood hoodood hoodood ♪

♪ she's burning
candles on me... ♪

Oh, fuck!

Fuck!

"cave of mystery"?

Cocksuck, mother fuck!

Did you see that?

You are a witness, sir!
Four months later,

Half the traffic lights in
this town still don't work.

I ain't seen one of these
potholes getting patched.

The goddamn city! Goddamn
motherless cunt Katrina!

Fuck!

Well, that particular hole
right there

Wasn't the fault
of the storm directly.

- What do you mean? - Utility folks been
making what they call "service cuts."

When they done, they been
filling the holes with gravel.

Gravel?

That's worthless.
The--

Oh, God. I got an appointment
I got to get to, man.

Well, my nephew could give you
a ride to where you're going,

For a small trip charge,
of course.

all right.

Just call him.

- Fuck!

Where you goin', anyway?

East bank.

East bank's extra.

Hey, Charles?

Yeah, we got another one
need to cross the bridge.

All right.

No, young man, you'll not
be able to take that.

What do you mean?

Charles is on a bike.

You know, motorcycle.

Well, what about my shit?

I'll watch it for you.

How much?

No, consider it lagniappe.

All right. Thanks, man.

What's happening, baby?
Where you headed?

Swift bus to Baton Rouge,
canal street stop.

Swift bus stop?
That's at the train station.

The closest one, man.

Take the I-10,
no surface streets.

You don't know who
you dealin' with, no?

To every person who has
served and sacrificed

In this emergency, I offer
the gratitude of our country.

And tonight,
I also offer this pledge

Of the American people:

Throughout the area
hit by the hurricane,

- We will do what it takes...

...We will stay
as long as it takes

To help citizens
rebuild their communities

- And their lives.

And all who question the future
of the Crescent city

Need to know, there is
no way to imagine America

Without New Orleans.

- And this great city...
Anybody home?

...Will rise again.

I'm sorry I'm late.

I bent my wheel rim in a pothole
on the West bank. No lie.

What in the world were you
doing over there? Sofia?

- Your piano teacher's here.

And whose fault was that?
It was entergy

Digging holes and filling
them back up with gravel.

Can you believe that?
Typical clusterfuck.

It's prett--
excuse my language, darling.

It's okay.
I hear worse every day.

Mmm. Maybe you should go
practice your...

Right.
How are you?

Huh? Home for
the holidays?

Home for good.
No more Baton Rouge.

Rockin' good news.

Hey, Cray, do you think you can
give me a lift back to my car

So I can snag my shit and then
maybe take me back to the treme?

Sure.

It's just for a day
or two, okay?

Aren't we doing okay here?

New Orleans is the place
you wanted to be, right?

Is is a chance to get on the bill
with some real players, you know?

Meet some people,
maybe play some clubs.

You can't do that here?

Maybe I'll have
better luck there.

- You be good.
- You too.

You can work the square,

But don't get with any
piano players.

It would be like cheating.

Oh, no no no.

Fuck no!

You didn't leave anything of
actual value in that car, did you?

God!

He said he was gonna
watch my shit.

"lagniappe."
lagappe, my ass!

Even lagniappe isn't worth
what it used to be.

Merde.

Fuck me!
Fuck me.

Should I call entergy again?

They're not gonna get
back out today.

Yeah, call 'em,
but we're fucked.

Tell Louise to call
the reservations and cancel.

I'm gonna go get drunk.

♪ told my mama,
told my wife... ♪

♪ lord have mercy
on my soul... ♪

♪ baaoooo! ♪

Show the saxes how we do it!

Lone star, shiner
and whiskey rocks, please.

Whoa whoa whoa!

You want something?

- Oh, big man, I see you.
- So?

You know the cover's $5.

Shit, man, it's like watching
a rat back up a cat.

Oh, you motherfuckers.

Ahem.

Hello, Youtube?

This is Creighton Bernette
from New Orleans.

Yeah, we're still here.

I just want to say something to
all y'all trying to figure out

What to do about our city.

Blow me.

You say, "why rebuild it?"
I say, "fuck you."

You rebuilt Chicago
after the fire.

You rebuilt San Francisco
after the earthquake.

Let me tell you something: Anything
that's any fucking good in Chicago

Came from someplace else.

And San Francisco is an
overpriced cesspool with hills.

To Houston and Atlanta:

May I say,

"lick my hairy balls."

You took in thousands
of our people,

But guess what?
You still suck.

We got more culture in one
neighborhood than you got

In all your sorry-ass
sprawling suburbs put together.

To New York:
Fuck you too.

You get attacked by a few
fundamentalist fucking assholes

And the federal money comes
raining down like rose petals.

Our whole fucking coast
was destroyed

And we're still waiting for
somebody to give a good goddamn.

But you want to write off
New Orleans,

Cancel carnival.

Let me tell you something:
Tuesday, February 28th,

Wherever the fuck you all are

Will be just another
gray, dreary

Sorry-ass
fucked-up Tuesday.

But down here,

There'll be Mardi Gras.

Fuck you, you fucking fucks!

- What's up?
- We're from New Orleans, man.

Sure, come on up here,
play one with us.

Come over here.
"go to the Mardi Gras" right?

- Right. B-flat. I gotcha.
- All right.

Ladies and gentlemen, a real hot
piano player from Frenchmen street,

- Mr. Sonny--
- Shiller. Sonny Shiller.

Sonny the chiller, y'all!
How about a big hand for him?

♪ oh, yes, I'm going to
New Orleans ♪

♪ and I'm gonna see
that Mardi Gras ♪

♪ say, I'm going down
to New Orleans ♪

♪ and I'm gonna see
that Mardi Gras ♪

♪ and when I get down there ♪

♪ I'm gonna see
that carnival... ♪

Good to have practice, man.

I appreciate you
doing this with us.

- Just don't tell monk on me.

Ma'am.

I heard you were in here.

I wasn't doing nothing wrong.

Boy, you just can't leave my house
and not say where you goin'.

I'm responsible for you.

We was just practicing is all.

He wasn't drinking, was he?

Even if he had a mind to,
I wouldn't let him, ma'am.

It's Lula, remember?

Yes, ma'am.

- Mr. Lambreaux.
- Albert.

Would you care to join us
for dinner tomorrow?

- Nothing elaborate.
- Delighted.

Ladies and gentlemen, how about
a hand for Mr. John Boutté?

Come on.
Join us up here, baby.

And my good friend over there,
Mr. Joe Krown,

Ladies and gentlemen,
on the piano.

Yo, Glen,
I can carry this for you.

Sorry, man, we gotta
spread it around a little bit.

We got a lot of New Orleans cats tonight.
But thank you.

Thank you.

- The high-f key sticks a bit.
- Oh, man, thank you.

Hey, by the way, you did
great on the fess, Max.

- Sonny.
- Oh, I'm Joe.

Right, I know.

- What key you want to go in, John?
- B-flat.

Put it in b-flat
for John, y'all. B-flat.

♪ don't waste your time ♪

♪ being angry ♪

♪ when a moment ♪

♪ is better with
a smile ♪

♪ if you feel your time ♪

♪ has been wasted ♪

♪ wasted here ♪

♪ for a while ♪

♪ standing ♪

♪ at that bus stop ♪

♪ just ♪

♪ just across from Krauss ♪

♪ waitin' waitin' ♪

♪ for the driver ♪

♪ to take me ♪

♪ to my heavenly ♪

♪ house ♪

- ♪ I'll see you there ♪ - ♪
At the foot of canal street ♪

- ♪ what will you wear?
♪ - ♪ At the foot of canal street ♪

- ♪ will the band be playin'?
♪ - ♪ At the foot of canal street ♪

- ♪ what'll people be saying?
♪ - ♪ At the foot of canal street ♪

♪ does your father lie there? ♪

♪ does your mama pray there? ♪

♪ I'm gonna lay
my burdens down ♪

- ♪ at the foot of canal ♪ - ♪
At the foot of canal street ♪

♪ when the levee banks
are overflowin' ♪

♪ and the streetcar
has seen its day ♪

♪ when all is gone ♪

♪ the plantations,
the treme ♪

♪ and the vieux carre ♪

♪ you know, I'll be swinging
to that music ♪

♪ way up on higher ground ♪

♪ where pops is blowin'
"walk on" ♪

♪ with Gabriel makin'
sacred sounds ♪

- ♪ I'll see you there ♪ - ♪
At the foot of canal street ♪

- ♪ what will they wear?
♪ - ♪ At the foot of canal street ♪

- ♪ will the band be playin'?
♪ - ♪ At the foot of canal street ♪

- ♪ what will people say?
♪ - ♪ At the foot of canal street ♪

♪ does your father
lie there? ♪

♪ does your mother
pray there? ♪

♪ I'm gonna lay
my burdens down ♪

♪ at the foot of canal... ♪

Get the fuck off me.

Is there a problem here?
Is there a problem?

Get the fuck--
get the fuck out!

Get out!

Texican don't look like much, but
you don't want to fuck with him.

Smallest bouncer
I've ever seen.

I thought everything
was bigger in Texas.

Don't fuck with that
texican, for real.

Say, man, you up?

You holding?

Heard it was bone dry
in New Orleans.

♪ take back all the gifts
you've been given ♪

♪ put a ring and lock
of your hair ♪

♪ and a card with
your picture upon it ♪

♪ it's a face
that is false but is fair ♪

♪ I will pawn me my
gold watch and chain, love ♪

♪ I will pawn me my gold
diamond ring... ♪

- To Mayor Nagin.
- No.

- To the city council.
- No! Boo!

- Army corps of engineers?
- Boo! No!

- F.E.M.A.
- Oh! No!

- And entergy!
- Oooh!

Is anyone in charge?
Seriously.

Where are the men of vision,
I ask you--

Men of sensitivity,

Of intellect...

With the hands of an artist?

Stop, okay?
I have kitchen funk on me.

- All you need's a shower.
- Yeah, I like mine warm.

A bath then.

I'll warm the water on my stove
and pour it over you dutifully.

Yo.

19th century romantic stuff.

- Right? Come on. - Can I get a
glass of red wine, please, to go?

And what say you, my lady?

Do you think we could use
a change in the civic leadership

Of this sad, squalid town?

I don't follow politics.

Thanks.

Cheers.

Cheers.

- So what do you think?
- I think it's late.

- I need to go.
- Okay, let's go.

We could walk.
Or would you rather grab a cab?

It's safe, though. Save for the son
of a bitch who snagged my keyboard,

- All the thugs are still in Houston.
- My house.

- Okay.
- Alone.

But I thought we--

- I work 16 hours a day.
- What?

My house is a wreck and if
I had the money to fix it,

I'd throw that into the restaurant too,
like every other Penny I've ever had.

And for what?
The city'll never be the same.

My restaurant's on the rocks;
I got no life here,

No family.

And for a private life
I have you.

I mean, what am I doing?

Bye, Davis.

Cheers.

The one that got away.

Mood swings-- man.

If the old guard won't change
then we need to change it.

- Yeah.
- Word.

You should step your shit
in there, Mcalary.

City council could use
some new fire.

I could run this
motherfucker, man. I could.

The only thing you're running
is your mouth.

- Yeah, you're right.
Mm-hmm.

But we do need
to clean house, though. Huh?

- Right?
Yeah!

Right? Right?

♪ doh! ♪

♪ city council, district c ♪

♪ d.J. Davis, vote for me! ♪

Rhyme that shit, Davis.

♪ desperate times need
desperate plans ♪

♪ y'all know I'm
a desperate man... ♪

- Whoo yeah!
- We'd be desperate to vote for you.

Wait wait!
Check this out!

Legalize pot.

Use the revenue,
fix our streets--

Noblest of goals.
I call my plan

"pot for potholes!"

- Yeah!
- What! What!

Pot for potholes!
Pot for potholes!

Right? Pens!
I need a pen.

Don't stop him.
He's gonna write that shit down.

Look.

Hey, you were playing
the piano earlier, right?

- Mr. Bouncer.
- The music's fucking great.

- It's New Orleans.
- From there, huh?

Amsterdam.

But I got to New Orleans
fast as I fucking could.

Must be something, huh?

Never been?
Where you Fm?

A little town southwest
of Houston-- Victoria, Texas.

I came all the way from
Europe and you couldn't drive

Five hours of interstate?
What the fuck is that?

You only live once,
Mr. Bouncer.

Then you're dead and gone
for a long fucking time.

You heard me?

I don't know, man.
I got a gig at the vanguard in a couple days.

But this thing is hot
right now.

Do the vanguard
and then hit the road.

Come on, Jim, jazz ain't run
hot or cold since bebop.

It just is, man.

I mean New Orleans.

The storm--
everybody wants a taste.

People know Terence Blanchard,
Wynton Marsalis.

Christian Scott's making
a name for himself.

And now here comes
Delmond Lambreaux,

Another great trumpet player
straight out of New Orleans.

I'm from New Orleans
but I don't play New Orleans.

And neither do those guys.
That's why they made names for themselves.

The acts on that bill, they're New
Orleans; they're in that pocket.

Donald Harrison is
straight-up modern jazz.

And he's on the bill. He even told the
label he'll share the stage with you.

You and Donald
will headline this.

You start out in Portland, Oregon,
work down the coast to L.A.,

Phoenix, Houston,
end in New Orleans--

Big homecoming show.

Portland, Oregon?

I played Portland before--
nice folks.

But you know they clap
on the one and three?

Open.

Ahh.

Ahh.

Ladonna will be here
on Christmas eve.

You stayin'?

I'm goin' back, me.

- I got Desiree and the baby.
- Yeah.

Been by the bar?

- Yeah.
- How's it doin'?

All right, I guess.

Well, she's not one to
share the financial details.

I'm sure if she needed help,

- She wouldn't even ask for it.
- Mm-hmm.

The woman's proud like that.

Don't I know?

Once I get these impressions,
I'll make you a permanent bridge.

In the meantime, you'll walk
out of here with a temporary.

Should be able to
play behind it.

Oh, man, I do need to work.

The boys look good.

Ah, they're pleased to see you.

You done a good job
with them, man.

I appreciate you
putting me up here

And, you know, all this.

It's not a problem.

I want you to breathe through
your nose, relax your lower jaw.

This is gonna taste
a little funny.

- Ahh.
- Relax.

Prints came back.

The man wearing David Maurice Brooks's
bracelet is not David Maurice Brooks.

That we know.
So who is he?

Keevon White.

Time at Angola on
assault and gun charges;

Currently awaiting trial
on a murder;

Suspect in another
but the witness recanted.

Jesus. How'd he come to be
wearing my kid's bracelet?

Hate to think.

Look, Toni,

We're not even acknowledging
that we ever had David Brooks.

Keevon White arrived at
that backwater parish

Wearing a bracelet issued
by o.P.P. In David's name.

How can you say
you never had him?

For all we know,

This badass knew
David Brooks from grade school

Or dated his cousin

Or just made up
the name when he got booked.

Middle name too?

Just happened to
get all three right?

Thanks for finding
Keevon White for us.

I do appreciate it.

Thought I'd give y'all
an early taste.

What? You think baseball's
just for white folks?

Randall plays on a travel team.

He's a bit past
the Nerf ball thing.

Ahh.

Thanks, pop.

I hope that fit.

If it doesn't,
maybe you could take it back.

Coming to dinner
with us, Larry?

I don't think so.

You doin' fine on your own.

Thanks, man.

I never really played
that much Cajun.

I mean, just a little
bit on royal street.

Well, if it was
a real Cajun band,

Then they'd have a real Cajun
fiddle player, I'd guarantee.

But they ain't exactly
the Balfa brothers.

Are you playing?

No call for a mandolin
or a guitar.

I've never done
a recording session.

Two years at conservatory--

All classical.

You know, this playing on
the street and club gigs,

It's a whole other world.

- How long you been down here?
- A year and a half.

- From where?
- New York.

I came here with my boyfriend.

I met him in Europe
backpacking.

He's the one who wanted
to come to New Orleans.

He's been talking about it
since he was a kid

When he heard his first
fats domino record.

Well, you want us to
call these guys?

I mean, you know, they do
need a fiddle for one track.

Coolest thing seeing
your name on a real c.D.

I'll let you know
when I'm ready.

Whoa! You're that guy!
Terry, it's that guy!

Oh, yeah. Cool.
Excellent stuff, my man.

"fuck you,
you fuckin' fucks!"

Don't leave me hanging.

Your coffee drink is
comped on account

Of the overwhelming
righteousness of your vid rant.

- What are you having?
- Skinny latte.

Hey, give 'em hell, big man!

Fuck yeah!

Okay, which one y'all like?

T.G.I. Friday's is the bomb.

Olive garden
and Coco's is good too.

We
like 'em all, daddy.

Don't they have these
in New Orleans?

Uh, out in metairie.

But I can't say I've
ever had the pleasure.

Where'd you get these mirlitons?
I heard they was all washed away.

I lost my vines from the yard,

But they can still be got.

So you must have a place
other than that bar, right?

Brick rancher in Gentilly.

I'm still fighting
the insurance on it, though.

Insurance some
scheming-ass bitches.

I'm sorry, but they are.

He's not wrong, you know.

Oh, it's my cell phone.

It's still new.
I'm not used to it.

It's my daughter from Houston.
Excuse me.

Hi, Davina? How are you, baby?

I'm good. I'm all right.

Oh, just sitting here
with some friends.

Daddy, does our
half-sister look like us?

Honorée?

Nah, you know, a little bit.

Got a picture?

I don't carry pictures
of none of y'all.

Keep 'em on the dresser.
That way I know where they're at.

Maybe you can bring our new sister
to Baton Rouge for a visit.

Well, you can come
to New Orleans.

It's hard for me
to get up here, see?

I gotta keep working.
And when you two go to college--

And I said "when," not if--

I hope to contribute some.

Now look, I know I don't get
to see y'all that much.

But, look, even though
I don't get to see y'all,

You're always right here
all the time.

And lucky for you, you have
a strong woman for a mom

And Larry-- he's a good man,

A good stepfather for y'all.

That's lucky too.

I gotta pee.

Hey.

- Your daughter good?
- Son too.

Got on the call from New York.

About to go on a big tour,
end up here in New Orleans.

Mmm, this is some fine
bread pudding.

I ain't ate like this
since I came back. Mmm.

Darius, what you gonna do now that
your haulin' career got cut short?

Look for new work, I guess.
Least till school start back.

There's plenty of work,
you really want it.

You look, you'll find it.

How's your business?

People have still got walls and
ceilings needing fixed.

I got a crack in my wall
upstairs needing tending to.

Well, I could maybe take
a look at that for you later.

You say Wynton gonna be here?

That's what I heard.

- Who else?
- Lots of people--

Everybody who's anybody.

Hey, sweetie, how you doin'?

- How you doin', Stanley?
- I'm doin' all right.

You know, I was thinking
about that piece you wrote

About 52nd street.
I was...

As they say,
pleasantly surprised.

Oh, thank you, Stanley.
I'm gonna go get a glass of wine.

- Then I'll be back for more flattery.
- Oh, you'll get it.

Stanley, you know my friend
Delmond Lambreaux?

- Stanley crouch.
- I know this young man's recording.

- Yeah, okay.
Nice to meet you, Stanley. - Right.

- Uh, I better--
- Jill, so good to see you!

- I think you better get a move on.
- Yeah, nice to meet you.

How they treating you over at
"the village voice" these days?

Ah, good enough.

Delmond Lambreaux,
Nelson George.

Hey, Delmond.
So good of you to come, man.

Thanks for having me.
Appreciate it.

Jill, you know that special
treat I promised you?

- I have it right over here.
- Oh my God.

See y'all later.

Can you believe that?
A legend right there.

Mr. Tyner? McCoy Tyner?
This is Jill I spoke to you about.

- Oh, yeah. How are you, Jill?
- It is an absolute honor to meet you, sir.

- I read you in "the voice."
- You did?

- Yeah.
- Sorry, folks.

- I'd like to introduce you to Delmond.
- I'm such a big fan.

- What's going on, everybody.
How you doing? - Cliff Robinson.

- Yeah, big fan, man. Big fan.
- Hi, Delmond.

- Renee Neufville.
- Hi hi hi.

I love your work, Renee.
Hey.

- Spencer means.
- All right.

- Kenny Anderson.
- Good to meet you, man. Big fan.

Delmond Lambreaux.

- Thank you very much.
- Would you play for us tonight?

- Not bad at all.
- Maybe a lile something.

You happen to have a Yankee outfielder
walking around here somewhere?

Yeah, Bernie Williams is here.
I saw him on the roof

With spike Lee
maybe a half hour ago.

- You want to meet him?
- Yeah, why not? Why not?

- One second.
- Sure.

Well, if you could.

- Mr. Tyner?
- Yeah.

- Good to see you, Del.
- Good to see you.

- Let me just borrow Jill
for a second? - Sure.

I'll be right back.

You fuckin' set me up.

Oh, look,
there's Janet Jackson.

Psyche!

- You're real funny.
- You know I am.

Yeah.
She's a trip.

So, Delmond, you've been living in
New York a few years now, right?

Who, me?
No, I'm a country boy...

So it seems.

Big chief!

Hey, baby.

Coming to the service
this afternoon, right?

Yeah. I got a little job
to do this morning.

Then I'm gonna go
pick up a suit

Down at Dillard's
over in metairie,

Come back home, change.

- What brings you by?
- My grandmother--

My father's mother.

- How's she doing?
- She's taking it hard.

Thing is, she don't want
a funeral with...

You know she didn't exactly
approve of my dad maskin' Indian.

Never did.

You sayin' she don't
want us there at all?

No no. Understand,
my family wants you there.

You are family to me.

So what is it then?

She don't want y'all to speak.

No words at the graveside,
no chanting, nothin' like that.

We did our thing last week
in the lower nine,

So she ain't got to
worry about that.

I know.

I did want to say
a few words about Jesse--

Not as an Indian, as a man.

I know that.

But see, my grandmother--
for her, it was, I don't know,

Disreputable.

You his chief.
You say anything,

It just reminds folks.

I hope you understand.

I will honor
your grandmother's wishes.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

I expect to see you
at the next practice.

You are the wild man's son
and we need you.

- I'm leaving town after.
- Why?

I got work, you need it.

The house is gone.
Ain't no place to live here.

Least nothing that
I could afford.

I don't know.

I'll see you
this afternoon, chief.

Okay now.

♪ I called red cross,
they refuse to pay ♪

♪ that bitch George Bush,
he was on delay ♪

♪ f.E.M.A. Playing games
so I had to get me ♪

♪ I want that second check
for $23, wassup? ♪

- ♪ I say fuck Katrina ♪
- ♪ Fuck Katrina ♪

- ♪ I say fuck Katrina ♪
- ♪ Fuck Katrina ♪

- ♪ I say fuck Katrina ♪
- ♪ Fuck Katrina ♪

- ♪ I say fuck Katrina ♪
- ♪ Fuck Katrina ♪

♪ I say fuck Katrina,
that ho is a creeper ♪

♪ for hanging with Rita,
they fuck over my people... ♪

Keevon White?

Prints came back.
You knew they would.

You could have saved us a trip.

Carryin' a murder charge.

I ain't in no hurry to have
my name ring out.

Do you know the current
whereabouts of David Brooks?

Nope.

Well, you're wearing
his bracelet.

Maybe we goin' steady.

Look at us.

You look at us, God damn it.

This is my mother...

David's mother.

Help us.

A'right.

It's hot as hell up
on that overpass.

No water for three, four days.

Some drank flood water
if they could scoop it.

That's where you met David?

I noticed him more
like he was soft, shiverin'.

He was sick?

Let's say, it looked like
he needed something

To make him feel better.

- I do not believe that.
- I don't either, mama.

Hmm.

Go on.

We didn't actually speak.

But I took note of the boy.

And they put us on them
buses up to the hunt,

Threw us all in the field.

Wasn't no bedrolls
or toilets.

Guards would toss sandwiches
over the wire and laugh

Like they were feeding
animals at a zoo.

And we fightin' over
them sandwiches too,

Moldy as they was.

Wasn't nobody protected.

Your brother way
too kindhearted.

So I took him up under my wing.

Hmm. You was just
looking out for him, huh?

I told him how
it was gonna be.

He needed to give up
his bracelet and wear mine.

And if he did that,

I would be sure that
nobody would punk him

Or cause him
any bodily harm.

That's what happened?
You persuaded David to trade bracelets?

Wasn't about to wear
no murder bracelet.

I could wear one with some
bullshit charges on it.

Shit, I thought I might get
tip on out of here

If they got to settin'
bails again.

And do you know where
they sent him after hunt?

Last time I seen him, he was steppin'
on the bus to some other damn parish.

I don't know which.

Why would you do this?

Why would you take
my boy's name like that,

'cause us all this misery?

Respectfully, ma'am,

I know how to jail.

Your boy don't.

I'd like to read this
back to you

And have you sign it.

We need your statement.

Hmm.
Conversation never happened.

I ain't about to take
another charge over this.

But I hope you find
your boy, ma'am.

I heard you on royal street.
You can play.

Thank you.

You should come sit in with us.

I shouldn't.
Not without Sonny.

Baby, he couldn't
carry your bow.

"we brought
nothing into this world

And it is certain that we
can carry nothing out.

The lord has given
and the lord

Has taken away.

Blessed be the name
of the lord.

Blessed are they that die
in the lord,

Even so sayeth the spirit,

"That they may rest
from their labor."

As it has pleased the almighty
God in his wise providence

To take out of the world the soul
of this, our deceased brother,

We do now therefore
commit his body to the ground,

Earth to earth,

Ashes to ashes,

And dust to dust.

Looking for the general
resurrection on the last day

And the life of the world to come
through our lord, Jesus Christ,

At whose second coming
in glorious majesty

To judge the world,

The earth and the sea
shall give up their dead.

I'll u.P.S. That permanent
bridge to you.

You ever have any problems
with it, you call me, you hear?

Come here, boys.

Y'all remember what I told you.

Right here all the time.

Ahhh.

Merry Christmas, baby.

Y'all too.

Business or pleasure
trip for you?

Pleasure.

New Orleans.

Always a pleasure.