Treme (2010–2013): Season 1, Episode 5 - Shame, Shame, Shame - full transcript
Albert presses Councilman Ron Singleton to reopen housing projects; Davis enlists some top local musicians to cut a campaign CD.
Finally.
Daymo.
Boy, what you doin'
in jail?
I don't know.
What do you mean,
you don't know?
What the fuck
you get arrested for?
I told you, Ladonna,
I don't know.
Messing around with
that dope again, ain't it?
Ma goin' crazy behind this.
You took her through hell.
Get me out of here, sis.
Come on, get me out.
♪ 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 bells 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 that
you're a busy man.
I'm glad you found
your way back.
And it's good of you to stop by today, Mr.
President,
If only for a short visit.
It lets us know that New
Orleans still has your heart.
Half of our people
are not home.
Charity hospital
is still closed,
With people dying down here
for lack of medical care.
And, yes, I know we're only
five months away
From the next hurricane season
With our flood control still
in a state of half-assedness.
Hey, what can we expect?
We're not the Dutch
Who keep half their country
out of the North Sea
As a matter of routine.
We're just Americans
Doing the best we can manage.
But I digress.
What I mean to say,
Mr. President,
Is that I continue to believe
In the better angel
of your nature;
The one who,
a few days after the storm,
Stood in front of
a floodlit Jackson square
And promised to rebuild
the Gulf coast.
So let me banish from my mind
The image of you lightly joking
About the high times
you spent here
In our city as a youth
While bodies
floated in our streets.
And far be it for me,
with all my excesses
And impulses, to judge you
For a few untethered,
unfocused words.
All will be forgiven,
Mr. President,
If you just simply
Take a moment, as I often do,
And watch yourself
in Jackson square
And listen to
those stirring words.
And then keep
your fucking promise.
I need to use the bathroom,
But I didn't want to come
through till you were awake.
Um, go ahead.
Sonny?
- Sonny?
- Hmm?
How long is your new friend
supposed to stay here?
Mmm.
You crawled into bed late.
- Did you get much done?
- Some.
I had something to say.
Who got the "f you" this time?
Oh, you can say "fuck.
" she can't hear you over that bounce rap,
Where her heroes are
undoubtedly saying "fuck"
And "shit" and
"keep off me, bitch."
No progress on the novel?
Classes startin'.
The novel seems
so unimportant, academic.
Cray, what is more important than
your writing-- your real writing?
- Krewe du vieux, maybe.
- Oh, that nonsense.
The first parade after the
storm is not nonsense.
It sets the tone.
I take my responsibilities
very seriously.
Hence the haircut.
I thought that was
for Tulane coming back.
Tulane, I changed my underwear.
oh, I see!
What's the krewe du vieux
theme this year?
George Bush, Kathleen Blanco,
Ray Nagin, sperm.
Seriously.
Just curious-- how do you always
manage to get past the desk sergeant?
I brought king cake.
If you want a slice, you'd better hustle.
Batiste, Antoine.
Remind me again.
His trombone-- it's not
at temporary evidence;
It's not with
your arresting officers;
It's not on any property
slip in the court file.
I'll throw some calls.
Thanks, Terry.
That's him. That's him.
You're sure, right?
You think I'm gonna
forget that man?
Yeah, you.
You.
You need me, boss.
- You done any roofin'?
- I've done it all.
And I speak English,
if that matters.
You.
And that's it.
That's it.
All right, this should be easy enough.
I can take it from here.
Oh, hell no.
I want to see his ugly grill
When you serve up them papers.
I ain't missing this no how.
Let me just lock my car.
Come on.
Yeah, I gotcha.
Well, you
better call him.
Yeah, all right then.
I'll call the man.
- Thanks, Toni.
- You're welcome.
Good lookin' out.
Ooh oh!
You fine, girl.
Where you headed?
They got a temporary personnel
office up for the school system.
I need to go see what happens to me
now that fortier isn't gonna reopen.
- You doin' that today?
- Schools are starting up.
I don't let 'em know I'm back,
they gonna give that job away.
Who was that?
- The lawyer.
- They find your 'bone?
Naw, not yet.
But she got this number
For these cats from japan--
jazz fans and shit.
They hooked up with
the Tipitina foundation
And want to help out
with stuff.
Payin' cash money
on instruments and all.
- They from Japan?
- Mm-hmm.
- Japan Japan?
- Mm-hmm. That's what she say.
I'm supposed to call
the man at the hotel.
Might have to go
downtown to meet him.
- You got the baby today.
- No, see, but--
But my ass.
I'm out.
- Tenemos Los shingles.
- Okay.
- Thaddeus Riley?
- Yeah.
You are hereby served.
Yeah.
I gotcha.
I gotcha good, Riley.
We goin' to court.
Miss Ladee, you didn't
need to do this.
Y'all crazy to work
for this man.
Like as not, he gonna plead poverty
when it come time to pay y'all.
- That's how he do.
- Shit.
Okay, $50 each, four songs.
$12.50 a song, man?
I'm already paying seven players
and two back-up singers.
- I can't afford more.
- Broke-ass guitar player.
- Yeah, but you're not doing
it for the money. - I'm not?
This is for New Orleans
in her hour of need.
Man, I've been in my hour
of need my whole damn life.
Where New Orleans been for me?
Years from now,
you're gonna be sittin' here
Staring into the...
Deep and compassionate eyes
Of a man...
A stranger, perhaps,
Who's trying to explain
the meaning of your life...
Get a grip, seriously.
...Your noblest deeds,
your finest accomplishments.
I can tune a bass drunk.
And you will justify
yourself by saying
That for next
to no money at all...
I played on
DJ Davis Mcalary's...
Legendary...
Four-song epistle...
Against all
that is unholy and...
Corrupt in the government
of New Orleans.
Man, is this epistle
in b-flat, at least?
B-flat, fine. And that
compassionate stranger--
His eyes will widen.
And by virtue of
your participation
In this musical
recording alone...
He will view your naked
humanity in a new light.
Is this the dirty part?
And he will say unto you...
"that is really great, pal.
But it's closing time.
"You need to put that in a
go-cup and get the fuck out."
- Right? You're in!
- All right, Davis, you're on.
- Yes!
- Man, give me my fiddy now.
Yeah!
Gotta wash my hands now.
Team Mcalary! Whoo!
Yes!
Asshole.
Sorry I'm late, Toni.
Let me tell you, if my afternoon
is anything like my morning,
- This here gonna be right.
- What happened?
I'm just sayin', this lawyerin'
shit could get good to a person.
Oyez oyez oyez.
All rise.
Section "a" of
the criminal court,
Parish of Orleans,
state of Louisiana,
Is now in session.
The honorable
John Gatling presiding.
God save this state
and the honorable court.
Please be seated.
So what's
left of this afternoon
Is all about Brooks v.
Orleans criminal sheriff's office
And the Louisiana department of corrections.
A habeas corpus.
- Miss Bernette?
- Yes, your honor.
Representing the family
of David Maurice Brooks,
We seek to compel o.P.C.S.O.
And state corrections officials
To provide immediate relief...
That's some bullshit
up in there.
Man, these motherfuckers got to
be out of their goddamn mind.
- What up, big chief?
- Gralen, what you up to, baby?
Man, four hours we've been up there, chief.
Four hours, man,
Tryin' to find somebody
to make some sense
Out of this second line
we tryin' to do Sunday.
Yeah, I heard about that.
All y'all tryin' to March together, right?
Man, damn near 30 clubs
have got together
Tryin' to get their people
back on the street.
Say, bro, we got the permit,
we got the word out.
Man, we got everybody comin'.
And these folks have the
audacity to cancel our permit
And try to shut
our parade down.
Now we only got three days
to change their damn minds.
They be talkin' that old
sideways shit up there, man.
- What you down here doin'?
- Me?
I just want to ask somebody
why they still got
All the projects boarded up.
People need to come home.
It's like they don't even want New
Orleans to be New Orleans no more.
- Mm-hmm.
- Who you tryin' to see, man?
- Singleton, to start.
Good luck with that.
You get past his secretary,
you let us know.
Chief, we out, baby.
Look, we gonna be out there Sunday.
- All right, baby.
- You heard me?
- I'm gonna look for you.
- All right now.
- Take care. Let's roll.
- All right, baby.
That is the nightmare being
lived by David Maurice Brooks,
His mother, his family
and friends.
I've spoken with
an inmate
Who saw David Brooks
On the broad street overpass
And later encountered
him at hunt,
Where they swapped
I.D. Wristbands.
- Where is that affidavit?
- Miss Dufossat.
- I'm sorry, your honor.
- Judge,
The inmate, Keevon white,
Is a reluctant witness.
But an order by this court
could compel his testimony,
Which coupled with
this photograph,
Will establish
that David Brooks
Was in o.P.P. Custody
during the storm.
Now you, miss Dufossat.
Your honor,
Unfortunately,
we cannot interrogate
That rather grainy
long-distance photograph
To ascertain the identity
of the person shown.
- The simple fact is--
- It is my brother.
- That's Daymo in that picture.
Ma'am,
Please don't do that.
I say the simple fact,
your honor,
Is that there exists
no documentation
To indicate that
Mr. David Maurice Brooks
Was in custody during
or after hurricane Katrina.
There's no arrest report,
no booking record.
There are more than 3,000
citizens of the Gulf coast
Who are still missing
and unaccounted for.
Mr. David Brooks just
happens to be one of them.
And that is regrettable.
But miss Bernette has
no compelling evidence
That this is the responsibility
of the state of Louisiana
Or the criminal
sheriff's office.
Is there no documentation
at all, miss Bernette?
Your Honor, I don't need
to remind you
That 80% of New Orleans
went underwater--
80% of our paperwork, not to mention
much of the computer database.
Chaos is a given, your honor.
There. Hey.
You're not doing it right.
Hey, there.
You come all the way from Houston
for the big second line Sunday.
I came to check up on you,
Seein' as how Delmond's
on the road and all.
I just wanted to make sure
you was okay.
- I'm fine. I'm fine.
- I see you fine.
I'm gonna go park the car and then you
can introduce me to your new friend.
Go on.
Let me.
- Davina, right?
- Yeah.
♪ one year ♪
♪ ain't no crime ♪
♪ I got boys boys ♪
♪ in Angola ♪
♪ they doin' 14 to 99. ♪
Beignets.
Get up in those, man.
Hey, listen, I got
some pretty good hookups
On some day work here, so...
I'd do more, but the faster
I get enough together
For a room of my own,
the faster I can--
- Where's all that from, dawg?
- Roofing gigs.
Three days,
three different crews.
I'll pay you back, bro.
No problem.
Annie, I'll be back.
He copped in Houston,
didn't he?
So what can you do now?
I've got to go deeper,
pry something up--
A police report, an
inmate roster, anything--
And prove that they have him.
- Crazy.
- Uh-huh.
Hey, Toni, Creighton, come in.
Welcome.
You know, I really loved
that last video you did.
Well, Joann, I confess
I loved saying it.
- It rolled off the tongue.
- Well, it certainly needed to be said.
Welcome.
Cray! Cray Bernette!
Roy Blount. Jesus.
Man, it's good to see you.
Good to see us all back here
at upperline, you know?
You know Joan and Tom
and Beth Ann.
And everybody knows Cray.
Cray is the man
of the hour,
Using that new Youtube
thing on the computer.
He just goes on there
and fires away.
Oh, God, Roy,
I don't think I believed
Anyone would hear it or hold me
accountable till this moment.
It's embarrassing.
No, it's nothing
of the kind.
"fuck you,
you fucking fucks!"
Raw, reductive power is the
voice of this town right now.
"fuck" as a command,
"fuck" as an adjective,
"fuck" as a noun and object.
No, I'm serious, Creighton.
It is poetry.
Bon appétit, everyone.
Did you see the video?
Whoo!
There are times when rage
is the only rational response.
He pulling my leg?
Butter comes out of Roy Blount's
pen sentence after sentence,
And here he is comparing
my shit talk to Shakespeare.
I can't tell, honestly.
I think he's fucking with me.
- "Davis for council"?
- Your mind is gone.
It's all theater, man.
If nominated, I will pretend to run.
And if elected, I won't
even pretend to serve.
You're messing
with smiley Lewis.
No. New lyrics, though-- incisive, provocative.
Smiley'd be proud.
Man, you're gonna need
a fat-ass trumpet
If you're gonna riff
on "shame shame shame."
- All is well. Remain calm.
Hey, Davis,
You want to cut
bass and drums first?
What band is this,
journey? No.
Everyone in the big room all at
once-- classic New Orleans R&B.
Okay, cool, but you're gonna have to call
me Cosmo for the rest of the session.
All aboard!
- Hey!
- Fearless leader.
Oh, Freeman, they hook you too?
- I can't believe you got Kermit.
- I will have you know
That Mr. Ruffins and I played
together in our earlier days.
Our musical roots are
hopelessly intertwined.
Oh, we was bad!
Not bad good, just bad!
I mean, we was triflin'!
- Hello.
- Hey hey.
What's all this?
Oh, these are all that's
left from some files
From an office
that got flooded.
- What kind of files are they?
- Parole and probation.
The people there gave me
everything they could find.
Said it was all
worthless and ruined.
you know what?
I'm beginning to think
they're right.
Oh. Can young eyes
read that?
Me neither.
Oh, Sof, by the way,
you need to talk to your father
About all your texting.
The phone bill came in last
month, and I gotta say it--
- I can read this, though.
- What?
I think that says
"field interest."
And that there
on the line below
Is "Webster." see?
"field interview," maybe.
"Webster."
Webster street?
Does that help any?
Hmm!
Look, up in the sky!
It's a bird!
It's a plane!
It's--
oh, hell yeah.
I'm with you, New Orleans.
Bring this bird down to 8,000'.
Let's have a look-see.
Oh, no.
Oh, no, that's not
good at all.
Your city's wet--
really wet!
It must be twice as bad
on the ground.
twice as bad?
Twice as bad?
You think?!
- ♪ shame shame ♪
- ♪ shame on you ♪
♪ now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame
on you now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame ♪
♪ what you have done ♪
♪ we was on the ropes,
we were down and out ♪
♪ you flew on over,
never did come down ♪
♪ shame shame shame
on you now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame
on you now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame
what you have done... ♪
Now we've got
the people of New Orleans
Living on air force bases
and in ratty-ass motels
From Utah to Georgia,
And people in Washington
talking about keeping
The housing projects closed.
Yeah, that's right.
They don't want
no more poor people
Coming back to New Orleans.
But I'll tell you what, New
Orleans without poor people
Ain't New Orleans,
because it's the people
Without a pot to piss in
who keep the beat
And blow the horns
and step in the streets.
And right now y'all are stuck
listening to this messed-up white boy
Because whichever 14-year-old
from Lafitte projects
Is the next smiley Lewis--
He's stuck out there
in East Bumfuck, Texas.
He can't get home
to sing this fucking song!
♪ shame shame shame
on you now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame
on you now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame
about what you've done! ♪
Whoo!
What? What?
That was great!
- Yes, indeed.
- That was some true shit!
Just to make absolutely sure we're
talking about the Sameerson.
Sure, that's David.
And you've been
looking for him?
Here I am sampling
your menu once a week
With no clue that
David worked for you.
The family mentioned other
restaurants-- mister B's, Irene's.
Daymo worked different
places different nights.
We don't see
the Webster street mention
Of a parole Agent's visit,
I don't find you.
How long did he work here?
We hired him about four months
before the storm, maybe five.
Dishwasher to start.
But by August, he was a back waiter.
- Reliable, huh?
- Sure, yeah.
- Right until Katrina, anyway.
- And then what happened?
Uh, I called Jacques early that morning
right before the rain started.
'cause I was already in Alabama and Jacques
was getting out of town with his cousin,
But we forgot the meat
in the freezer, so...
So I called Daymo because
I knew he hadn't left.
And I asked if he could
go by the restaurant
And take the meat to
a shelter or give it away.
- And he say, "no problem."
- He had a key?
We kept one
in the false brick front
Outside the kitchen entrance
for emergencies.
And the hurricane
was an emergency, so...
And the meat?
Rancid as anything
when we got back.
I had to replace
the walk-in.
The door key was
where we left it.
And Daymo?
Never came back.
The mobile number we had
for him was dead.
And nothing.
If he got locked up, it was
for something, you know?
Or maybe he started
gettin' high in jail.
If he did get out somehow,
He could be in Houston
or wherever right now.
And he ain't gonna pick up
the phone 'cause he ashamed.
He wouldn't call to
let you know where he at?
If he usin',
that'd break mama's heart.
you must be...
Koichi Toyama.
- You are Antoine Batiste?
- Yeah.
Welcome to New Orleans.
Get you something
before you two set off?
Oh... Sazerac, perhaps?
Don't get much call
for sazeracs in here.
Got a second choice?
Abita Amber?
That we can do.
I see you've been
down here some.
Thank you.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
- Mmm!
I bet you miss these.
They got sandwiches
in Houston, daddy--
Lots of good food.
Great Mexican.
- Mmm.
...Strong buildings
And new schools
Because our future is here.
New Orleans is our home.
I am happy...
That's the man
that ducked me yesterday.
Baby, can you drive me East?
- What, now?
- Mm-hmm.
Chief.
- Hey, bro.
- Nice to see you, man.
What are you doing
way out here in the East?
Trying to get with your boss.
Apparently, I gotta go
everywhere he go.
Any given moment, we're
all over the city, you know?
- Mm-hmm.
- Tryin' to help folk get back.
Yeah, some are getting back
faster than others.
Yeah. The amazing thing
about the Vietnamese
Is that they're doing it
on their own.
They're not getting help
from anybody.
And still your boss is down here
to share some of the credit, huh?
You upset about
something, chief?
Y'all need to open up
Calliope or Lafitte.
My people want to come on
back home before Mardi Gras.
Now you open up just a few
of them buildings
And we'll take care
of the rest.
- Projects are federal.
- That don't mean
That y'all can't press 'em
to do the right thing.
I mean, I wouldn't mind seeing
a little something from y'all
About getting our people
back home too.
Chief?
- Chief.
- Ron.
Good to see you.
Eric, you ready to--
- Can I talk with you, Ron?
- What's going on, chief?
My gang wants to
come on back home.
But they need places to stay.
- I understand.
- Now the projects sittin' there empty.
They didn't flood,
didn't blow over.
Oh, chief, wish I could do it.
But you know
that's not my call.
Hey, you know
my door's always open.
Eric, make sure chief
Lambreaux gets in to see me.
- Yes, sir.
- Chief.
Chief, I'll call you.
Joint up the block usually
has some decent brass.
At first when I am
informed of your name,
I am uncertain.
Alvin Batiste, trombone?
No, he plays clarinet.
No, not old Alvin.
You know, that's a whole 'nother
world of talent right there.
From a computer, I find out
Antoine Batiste recorded
with preservation hall
And also a live recording
with Shannon Powell
And Germaine bazzle.
These recordings I myself own.
Your intonation is notable
And your attack
very satisfactory.
You know,
I can play some. Yeah.
Ever since I hear
the hot five's record
"you made me love you,"
I have been a jazz fan.
Yeah, Kid Ory will do it
to you every time.
No, Hy Clark played that
number-- just that number.
Oh, Hy Clark?
Yes! That album
was my beginning.
Then when I come first
to New Orleans
And I hear such good
live music,
I couldn't believe it.
After that, I buy every record
That comes to Japan.
Your remember the sweet Emma
record on riverside?
"the bell gal and
her dixieland boys"?
Oh yeah, big eye Louis.
He could play.
Regrettably, I must
again correct you.
It was Jim Robinson.
What'd I say?
Big eye?
Oh, no, you know
I meant big Jim.
After Katrina,
Every time I listen
to those records, I cry.
That's why my jazz group
decided to come
To do what we can.
And we are glad
that you are here.
- Oh.
- Eh.
A pawn shop?
This is unacceptable.
Say what?
Well, I would feel badly
if I come all this way
To purchase a used trombone
for you, Mr. Batiste.
Please, spare me no expense.
Also we spoke of
big eye Louis Nelson.
I heard big eye
at preservation hall
With kid Thomas Valentine.
- Thomas Valentine?
- Yes.
- 1985. - 1985?
You were over here in '85?
Yes yes! That was my
first time in New Orleans.
That changed my life.
Eggplant, garlic soup,
grilled shrimp.
Got it, chef.
Firin' 'em.
Pork chop, mid-rare.
Pork chop, kill it, no sauce.
Four pork, all day,
mixed grill, sweetbreads.
Four porks on, chef.
One left, then 86 the pork.
- Only one more chop.
Spread the word. - Okay.
Sweetbreads, trout, trout.
Two trout, all day.
Sirloin, mid-rare,
béarnaise on the side.
Four guys with a lot
of attitude just walked in.
They're dropping John Besh's
name, but no reservation.
Should I tell them 40 minutes?
Holy Christ!
Jacques, it's Tom Colicchio
and Eric Ripert
And David Chang and, just
for laughs, Wylie Dufresne.
Squeeze them
in table seven now.
Besh fucked us--
fucked us good.
Jacques, be thinking about what the
hell we're gonna cook these guys.
Chef, so nice of you
to call ahead.
It was a last-minute thing.
We just got into town.
We're doing this
charity gig tomorrow night
And John said this is
the place we have to come.
- He didn't call?
- No.
- John says hi, by the way.
- Right back at him.
- Chef, let me introduce you to everybody.
- Oh, no need. I know.
Hi, Wylie, hello.
David, hi.
Eric, hi.
I'm Janette.
- Pleasure.
- Tom.
Well, I have a great table
for you guys,
If you want to follow me.
Looks like you're
recovering nicely.
Oh, looks can be deceiving.
We won't be needing those,
Louise, thank you.
We're psyched to be
in your hands.
And please don't be shy.
We are starving.
Done. All right, chefs.
It is an honor to meet you all.
- Have a good time.
- Thank you.
Jacques?
What do you got for me?
Smoked salmon
around some caviar,
Seafood truffle stew,
fingerlings,
Then the lamb off the menu.
We can't out-new York a bunch of
New York chefs. We lowball 'em.
We start with the sweet potato,
andouille shrimp soup.
Then we get the rabbit kidneys
out of the freezer--
They're tiny;
They're gonna thaw fast.
We skewer them with some
lardons of the Benton's bacon.
Then we hit 'em with sweetbreads
and crawfish over grits.
You're a devious devious woman.
You think? Okay, how about
this for the last plate?
We've still got the braised
lamb neck from staff meal?
You are my chef forever.
Then I saw a picture
with Armstrong
And he was playing trombone.
Pops? Trombone?
Cash or charge on this?
But a little trombone,
like a baby.
That must have been an alto.
No no no no.
Then I understand--
- Slide trumpet.
- Ahh!
- That's what it was.
- Yeah, slide trumpet. Yes, indeed.
But it make no sense
Because Kid Ory was in the
photograph with his trombone.
Kid Ory?
With the king oliver band?
No no no.
That wasn't Kid Ory, bro.
With the creole jazz band?
Hell no.
Yes, Kid Ory.
Dawg, that was Honoré Dutrey
On the trombone in that photo.
I know the photo
you talkin' about.
- Honoré Dutrey.
- Kid Ory.
It was Honoré Dutrey
Holding a trombone
in that picture.
I know I'm right
and you're wrong
Because I damned well named my
daughter after Honoré Dutrey.
Cash or credit?
Or do you two want to
take this outside?
Whoo.
Take a picture
of that shit, my friend.
Thank you for indulging me,
Mr. Batiste.
I can be exuberant
When I talk about music.
No, man, that was
my bad back there.
I mean, damn, how you
gonna talk about
Me indulging you
when I'm standing here
- With a brand-new trombone.
- Well, this is my pleasure.
You were here in Katrina?
Oh, hell no.
I wouldn't be all the way
out here except for the storm.
My midcity place
was under 5' of water.
I've been here since.
And your car?
My car? No car.
How can you get around?
I make do.
Hey, you want me
to blow this thing?
Oh. Well, that would be
too much trouble.
Oh, it's no problem.
Hold on.
Kid Ory, "struttin' with
some barbeque."
note for note.
Goodbye, Antoine Batiste.
Oh no, man, you've done enough.
Okay, put the isle flotant in front of Ripert.
It's his favorite.
Colicchio said you can cook.
What?
How did he say it?
I mean, exactly
what did he say?
He said it kind of offhanded,
like, "she can really cook."
He said, "she can cook"
or "she can really cook"?
He said "really.
" and the other guys, like, agreed.
- What did they say?
- They were like, "yeah."
Jacques!
- How was everything?
- Awesome food, chef.
Oh, thank you.
Rabbit kidneys, huh?
Nice touch.
- Benton's bacon, right? - Yeah.
I sprinkle that stuff on my breakfast cereal.
You know, Janette, if you ever
find yourself up in New York,
Please, I'd love
to return the favor.
It would be my pleasure
to cook for you.
- Give me a call, really.
- All right, thank you.
Thanks again, you guys.
I hope you had a great time.
- And thanks for coming in.
- Thanks, chef.
French, eh? You gotta throw
a little French in there?
- We're in New Orleans.
- Yeah, I know what you're after.
So what's the occasion anyway?
The occasion is they're coming
home, for today anyway.
New Orleans is coming home, man.
Just watch and learn.
Who's ready for
another cold one?
Man, I can't even taste the
beer with the smell of mold in here.
Can't we meet somewhere else?
The captains of krewe de vieux
have been meeting
At the mother-in-law
since '96.
We're not going
anywhere, Donny.
Not after miss
Antoinette was good enough
- To unlock this lounge for us.
- Next item of business?
Some of our subkrewes, they want
some kind of acknowledgement
Of the storm--
a serious acknowledgment,
Not that tongue-in-cheek
thing we usually do.
I'm most serious when
my tongue's in my cheek.
Well, how serious an acknowledgment
are we talking about here?
Well, like a riderless horse
at the head of the parade.
The sacred purpose of krewe du
vieux is to mock the serious.
- Vote. - All in favor of
a serious acknowledgment
At the head of this year's
krewe du vieux parade?
- No.
- Yes.
- No.
- No.
No.
K-doe abstains.
The motion fails.
- Here they come. Captain?
A respite to appreciate
the second line?
Yes!
Jesus.
Hey!
Wow!
Oh!
How's it going?
It's beautiful, no problems.
The cops are a little
freaked out by the numbers,
But I'm glad we got as many
people as we do volunteering.
- Nobody expected this
many people back. - No.
This almost didn't happen.
- This had to happen.
It's great. - Yeah.
I'm gonna fall back and see what's
going on with the third division.
Oh, come on, v.I.P.S!
Go to work!
Work work work!
Work, v.I.P.S!
Work work!
- Kim!
- Whaah!
Oh my God, you made it!
I'll be-- I'll catch up with you.
Go ahead, I'll catch up
with you.
Marcus, right?
Been wondering
about my brother.
- How he doin'?
- Haven't heard from him since the storm.
- You seen him?
- Me?
I was in Atlanta till,
like, new years.
I just need to know,
before the storm,
Was Daymo back to using?
Wasn't copping
from me if he was.
Last I knew,
he let the shit be.
That's it?
I'm just trying to
figure it out, you know?
Well, if I hear something,
you got the bar open, right?
Yeah. Yeah, I been back
a while now.
Figured it was time
for me to come back too,
See what's happening.
Yeah.
Okay then.
Take it easy.
Davis!
Janette!
Hey, babe.
You won't believe what happened to
me at the restaurant last night.
You will not believe this!
- Check it out!
- What?
Check it out!
- Yeah, I'm gonna follow him!
- That was different.
Oh, man, don't even try to act
like it wasn't fucking awesome.
The band was fucking
on fire, man.
He's shooting!
Annie?
Annie?
We got a man down!
Man down, man down!
- Man down.
- Annie!
For many it was a stark
reminder of a New Orleans
Many hoped Katrina
had washed away.
When the fuck did that happen?
I didn't hear any gunshots.
I was at the whole second line, man.
Man, three people shot.
You believe that shit?
That's messed up.
That was a hell of a parade.
Look like all the knucklehead
shit must be coming back to town.
I can only quote
Antoine Batiste--
"New Orleans niggers
will fuck up a wet dream."
You know, now the media
is gonna freak the fuck out,
Our cops-- shit.
- Hey, white boy.
- I mean, they're just--
They're just looking for an excuse
to clamp down on the second lines.
Yo, white boy,
what was that you said?
I was saying that the cops are
gonna take this and run with it.
Naw, that ain't what you said.
Say "nigger" again.
What?
Oh, bro, bro...
No, I live
in this neighborhood, so...
Say it.
I dare you.
you dare me?
Davis, shut up, man.
He just dared me to say "nigger.
" what is that all about?
- Like I'm like--
- Shh. Shh.
"shh? Shh?"
all right.
All right, all right.
Okay.
Just for the sake
of discussion,
What's gonna happen
if I--
Oh, man!
Come on, man.
- Davis, you okay, man?
- Fuck off! Fuck!
Fuck this!
- Wait up, Davis.
- Leave me the fuck alone, man!
Shh.
Donald, he's conscious.
How the fuck--
We found you lying in the street
last night just by our gate.
Rough night?
We thought to take you home,
but you had no keys.
No wallet either.
Coffee?
Uh...
You guys brought me in?
We're your neighbors.
Yes, sir?
What's the most trombone
I can buy for that?
The conn, probably.
Now is it for you
or for a kid taking lessons?
- Because you could rent.
- Nah.
I have a hell of a horn
right now, me.
This is for a friend
who lost his in the storm.
Nah.
What the fu-- let me see
that one right there.
What does that say, bro?
"a. B. '79."
Mm-hmm.
"a. B.," mother--
You know I'm not
picking that up.
I'm taking this to
the U.S. Attorney's office.
Those guys not only beat
my client down,
They took his property down
to Carondelet street for pawn.
Never mind dirty--
I expect dirty in this town,
But that's just stupid.
Like they want to get caught.
Toni, between the guys
who quit during the storm
And the guys that
we fired afterwards,
I'm at 60% in this district.
And the guys who
are still on the job--
They got no homes, no money.
Their families are living
out of town, most of them.
I got guys drinking, guys who won't
get out of their cars to work.
Never mind some of them worked two
weeks straight after the storm.
They were fucking heroes.
Now they know what the rest
of the world thinks.
They've seen
the New Orleans police
On the news for looting,
for beating on people,
For the Danziger bridge
shootings.
The guys who did this, it's--
It's like a cry for help.
It's all coming back, isn't it?
For a moment the storm
took it away--
No dope, no guns.
No guns, no bodies.
- You know Cosgrove?
- Mm?
The asac over
at the F.B.I. field office?
Ah.
He told me a story,
Came to him from
a Houston homicide guy
Who locked up some
New Orleans wonder
For a murder in that city.
The kid does his 60 days
in detention.
You know, gathers his stuff up,
Calls for a guard,
tells him that his time's up.
It's time to let him go.
Yeah.
And the kid explains, in New
Orleans when you shoot someone,
They hold you for 60 days
and let you go,
Which, let's face it,
is pretty much what we do
Given how fucked up Eddie
Jordan has the d.A.'s office.
Eddie's a joke, but his shop's
not the only one with problems.
I am telling you, Toni,
the wheels are off the cart.
And now just like those two assholes
shooting up the second line,
The crime is coming back.
And we ain't ready.
But you want to talk
about a trombone.
Hey, you.
Oh, you're reading
your old stuff, huh?
Thoreau had it wrong.
Most men lead lives
of quiet masturbation.
Cray, you're not gonna
believe the day I had--
My Agent called. She's coming
for a visit in a couple weeks.
- Yeah? - Carla said new
opportunities, new circumstances.
- Lots to talk about.
- You sound thrilled.
Good news comes by phone.
When a New York literary Agent
travels 1,000 miles,
That means the publisher
wants their advance returned.
I'm six years late
on this novel.
Random house is fed the fuck up
and wants their money back.
- She said that?
- With the money we spent
On the new roof and
lowering our mortgage,
Guess what--
I got nothing to give 'em.
- Creighton--
- What, Toni?
What?
That fuckin' Agent's
gonna ruin Mardi Gras.
Sorry, bro.
See you around, okay?
Daymo.
Boy, what you doin'
in jail?
I don't know.
What do you mean,
you don't know?
What the fuck
you get arrested for?
I told you, Ladonna,
I don't know.
Messing around with
that dope again, ain't it?
Ma goin' crazy behind this.
You took her through hell.
Get me out of here, sis.
Come on, get me out.
♪ 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 bells 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 that
you're a busy man.
I'm glad you found
your way back.
And it's good of you to stop by today, Mr.
President,
If only for a short visit.
It lets us know that New
Orleans still has your heart.
Half of our people
are not home.
Charity hospital
is still closed,
With people dying down here
for lack of medical care.
And, yes, I know we're only
five months away
From the next hurricane season
With our flood control still
in a state of half-assedness.
Hey, what can we expect?
We're not the Dutch
Who keep half their country
out of the North Sea
As a matter of routine.
We're just Americans
Doing the best we can manage.
But I digress.
What I mean to say,
Mr. President,
Is that I continue to believe
In the better angel
of your nature;
The one who,
a few days after the storm,
Stood in front of
a floodlit Jackson square
And promised to rebuild
the Gulf coast.
So let me banish from my mind
The image of you lightly joking
About the high times
you spent here
In our city as a youth
While bodies
floated in our streets.
And far be it for me,
with all my excesses
And impulses, to judge you
For a few untethered,
unfocused words.
All will be forgiven,
Mr. President,
If you just simply
Take a moment, as I often do,
And watch yourself
in Jackson square
And listen to
those stirring words.
And then keep
your fucking promise.
I need to use the bathroom,
But I didn't want to come
through till you were awake.
Um, go ahead.
Sonny?
- Sonny?
- Hmm?
How long is your new friend
supposed to stay here?
Mmm.
You crawled into bed late.
- Did you get much done?
- Some.
I had something to say.
Who got the "f you" this time?
Oh, you can say "fuck.
" she can't hear you over that bounce rap,
Where her heroes are
undoubtedly saying "fuck"
And "shit" and
"keep off me, bitch."
No progress on the novel?
Classes startin'.
The novel seems
so unimportant, academic.
Cray, what is more important than
your writing-- your real writing?
- Krewe du vieux, maybe.
- Oh, that nonsense.
The first parade after the
storm is not nonsense.
It sets the tone.
I take my responsibilities
very seriously.
Hence the haircut.
I thought that was
for Tulane coming back.
Tulane, I changed my underwear.
oh, I see!
What's the krewe du vieux
theme this year?
George Bush, Kathleen Blanco,
Ray Nagin, sperm.
Seriously.
Just curious-- how do you always
manage to get past the desk sergeant?
I brought king cake.
If you want a slice, you'd better hustle.
Batiste, Antoine.
Remind me again.
His trombone-- it's not
at temporary evidence;
It's not with
your arresting officers;
It's not on any property
slip in the court file.
I'll throw some calls.
Thanks, Terry.
That's him. That's him.
You're sure, right?
You think I'm gonna
forget that man?
Yeah, you.
You.
You need me, boss.
- You done any roofin'?
- I've done it all.
And I speak English,
if that matters.
You.
And that's it.
That's it.
All right, this should be easy enough.
I can take it from here.
Oh, hell no.
I want to see his ugly grill
When you serve up them papers.
I ain't missing this no how.
Let me just lock my car.
Come on.
Yeah, I gotcha.
Well, you
better call him.
Yeah, all right then.
I'll call the man.
- Thanks, Toni.
- You're welcome.
Good lookin' out.
Ooh oh!
You fine, girl.
Where you headed?
They got a temporary personnel
office up for the school system.
I need to go see what happens to me
now that fortier isn't gonna reopen.
- You doin' that today?
- Schools are starting up.
I don't let 'em know I'm back,
they gonna give that job away.
Who was that?
- The lawyer.
- They find your 'bone?
Naw, not yet.
But she got this number
For these cats from japan--
jazz fans and shit.
They hooked up with
the Tipitina foundation
And want to help out
with stuff.
Payin' cash money
on instruments and all.
- They from Japan?
- Mm-hmm.
- Japan Japan?
- Mm-hmm. That's what she say.
I'm supposed to call
the man at the hotel.
Might have to go
downtown to meet him.
- You got the baby today.
- No, see, but--
But my ass.
I'm out.
- Tenemos Los shingles.
- Okay.
- Thaddeus Riley?
- Yeah.
You are hereby served.
Yeah.
I gotcha.
I gotcha good, Riley.
We goin' to court.
Miss Ladee, you didn't
need to do this.
Y'all crazy to work
for this man.
Like as not, he gonna plead poverty
when it come time to pay y'all.
- That's how he do.
- Shit.
Okay, $50 each, four songs.
$12.50 a song, man?
I'm already paying seven players
and two back-up singers.
- I can't afford more.
- Broke-ass guitar player.
- Yeah, but you're not doing
it for the money. - I'm not?
This is for New Orleans
in her hour of need.
Man, I've been in my hour
of need my whole damn life.
Where New Orleans been for me?
Years from now,
you're gonna be sittin' here
Staring into the...
Deep and compassionate eyes
Of a man...
A stranger, perhaps,
Who's trying to explain
the meaning of your life...
Get a grip, seriously.
...Your noblest deeds,
your finest accomplishments.
I can tune a bass drunk.
And you will justify
yourself by saying
That for next
to no money at all...
I played on
DJ Davis Mcalary's...
Legendary...
Four-song epistle...
Against all
that is unholy and...
Corrupt in the government
of New Orleans.
Man, is this epistle
in b-flat, at least?
B-flat, fine. And that
compassionate stranger--
His eyes will widen.
And by virtue of
your participation
In this musical
recording alone...
He will view your naked
humanity in a new light.
Is this the dirty part?
And he will say unto you...
"that is really great, pal.
But it's closing time.
"You need to put that in a
go-cup and get the fuck out."
- Right? You're in!
- All right, Davis, you're on.
- Yes!
- Man, give me my fiddy now.
Yeah!
Gotta wash my hands now.
Team Mcalary! Whoo!
Yes!
Asshole.
Sorry I'm late, Toni.
Let me tell you, if my afternoon
is anything like my morning,
- This here gonna be right.
- What happened?
I'm just sayin', this lawyerin'
shit could get good to a person.
Oyez oyez oyez.
All rise.
Section "a" of
the criminal court,
Parish of Orleans,
state of Louisiana,
Is now in session.
The honorable
John Gatling presiding.
God save this state
and the honorable court.
Please be seated.
So what's
left of this afternoon
Is all about Brooks v.
Orleans criminal sheriff's office
And the Louisiana department of corrections.
A habeas corpus.
- Miss Bernette?
- Yes, your honor.
Representing the family
of David Maurice Brooks,
We seek to compel o.P.C.S.O.
And state corrections officials
To provide immediate relief...
That's some bullshit
up in there.
Man, these motherfuckers got to
be out of their goddamn mind.
- What up, big chief?
- Gralen, what you up to, baby?
Man, four hours we've been up there, chief.
Four hours, man,
Tryin' to find somebody
to make some sense
Out of this second line
we tryin' to do Sunday.
Yeah, I heard about that.
All y'all tryin' to March together, right?
Man, damn near 30 clubs
have got together
Tryin' to get their people
back on the street.
Say, bro, we got the permit,
we got the word out.
Man, we got everybody comin'.
And these folks have the
audacity to cancel our permit
And try to shut
our parade down.
Now we only got three days
to change their damn minds.
They be talkin' that old
sideways shit up there, man.
- What you down here doin'?
- Me?
I just want to ask somebody
why they still got
All the projects boarded up.
People need to come home.
It's like they don't even want New
Orleans to be New Orleans no more.
- Mm-hmm.
- Who you tryin' to see, man?
- Singleton, to start.
Good luck with that.
You get past his secretary,
you let us know.
Chief, we out, baby.
Look, we gonna be out there Sunday.
- All right, baby.
- You heard me?
- I'm gonna look for you.
- All right now.
- Take care. Let's roll.
- All right, baby.
That is the nightmare being
lived by David Maurice Brooks,
His mother, his family
and friends.
I've spoken with
an inmate
Who saw David Brooks
On the broad street overpass
And later encountered
him at hunt,
Where they swapped
I.D. Wristbands.
- Where is that affidavit?
- Miss Dufossat.
- I'm sorry, your honor.
- Judge,
The inmate, Keevon white,
Is a reluctant witness.
But an order by this court
could compel his testimony,
Which coupled with
this photograph,
Will establish
that David Brooks
Was in o.P.P. Custody
during the storm.
Now you, miss Dufossat.
Your honor,
Unfortunately,
we cannot interrogate
That rather grainy
long-distance photograph
To ascertain the identity
of the person shown.
- The simple fact is--
- It is my brother.
- That's Daymo in that picture.
Ma'am,
Please don't do that.
I say the simple fact,
your honor,
Is that there exists
no documentation
To indicate that
Mr. David Maurice Brooks
Was in custody during
or after hurricane Katrina.
There's no arrest report,
no booking record.
There are more than 3,000
citizens of the Gulf coast
Who are still missing
and unaccounted for.
Mr. David Brooks just
happens to be one of them.
And that is regrettable.
But miss Bernette has
no compelling evidence
That this is the responsibility
of the state of Louisiana
Or the criminal
sheriff's office.
Is there no documentation
at all, miss Bernette?
Your Honor, I don't need
to remind you
That 80% of New Orleans
went underwater--
80% of our paperwork, not to mention
much of the computer database.
Chaos is a given, your honor.
There. Hey.
You're not doing it right.
Hey, there.
You come all the way from Houston
for the big second line Sunday.
I came to check up on you,
Seein' as how Delmond's
on the road and all.
I just wanted to make sure
you was okay.
- I'm fine. I'm fine.
- I see you fine.
I'm gonna go park the car and then you
can introduce me to your new friend.
Go on.
Let me.
- Davina, right?
- Yeah.
♪ one year ♪
♪ ain't no crime ♪
♪ I got boys boys ♪
♪ in Angola ♪
♪ they doin' 14 to 99. ♪
Beignets.
Get up in those, man.
Hey, listen, I got
some pretty good hookups
On some day work here, so...
I'd do more, but the faster
I get enough together
For a room of my own,
the faster I can--
- Where's all that from, dawg?
- Roofing gigs.
Three days,
three different crews.
I'll pay you back, bro.
No problem.
Annie, I'll be back.
He copped in Houston,
didn't he?
So what can you do now?
I've got to go deeper,
pry something up--
A police report, an
inmate roster, anything--
And prove that they have him.
- Crazy.
- Uh-huh.
Hey, Toni, Creighton, come in.
Welcome.
You know, I really loved
that last video you did.
Well, Joann, I confess
I loved saying it.
- It rolled off the tongue.
- Well, it certainly needed to be said.
Welcome.
Cray! Cray Bernette!
Roy Blount. Jesus.
Man, it's good to see you.
Good to see us all back here
at upperline, you know?
You know Joan and Tom
and Beth Ann.
And everybody knows Cray.
Cray is the man
of the hour,
Using that new Youtube
thing on the computer.
He just goes on there
and fires away.
Oh, God, Roy,
I don't think I believed
Anyone would hear it or hold me
accountable till this moment.
It's embarrassing.
No, it's nothing
of the kind.
"fuck you,
you fucking fucks!"
Raw, reductive power is the
voice of this town right now.
"fuck" as a command,
"fuck" as an adjective,
"fuck" as a noun and object.
No, I'm serious, Creighton.
It is poetry.
Bon appétit, everyone.
Did you see the video?
Whoo!
There are times when rage
is the only rational response.
He pulling my leg?
Butter comes out of Roy Blount's
pen sentence after sentence,
And here he is comparing
my shit talk to Shakespeare.
I can't tell, honestly.
I think he's fucking with me.
- "Davis for council"?
- Your mind is gone.
It's all theater, man.
If nominated, I will pretend to run.
And if elected, I won't
even pretend to serve.
You're messing
with smiley Lewis.
No. New lyrics, though-- incisive, provocative.
Smiley'd be proud.
Man, you're gonna need
a fat-ass trumpet
If you're gonna riff
on "shame shame shame."
- All is well. Remain calm.
Hey, Davis,
You want to cut
bass and drums first?
What band is this,
journey? No.
Everyone in the big room all at
once-- classic New Orleans R&B.
Okay, cool, but you're gonna have to call
me Cosmo for the rest of the session.
All aboard!
- Hey!
- Fearless leader.
Oh, Freeman, they hook you too?
- I can't believe you got Kermit.
- I will have you know
That Mr. Ruffins and I played
together in our earlier days.
Our musical roots are
hopelessly intertwined.
Oh, we was bad!
Not bad good, just bad!
I mean, we was triflin'!
- Hello.
- Hey hey.
What's all this?
Oh, these are all that's
left from some files
From an office
that got flooded.
- What kind of files are they?
- Parole and probation.
The people there gave me
everything they could find.
Said it was all
worthless and ruined.
you know what?
I'm beginning to think
they're right.
Oh. Can young eyes
read that?
Me neither.
Oh, Sof, by the way,
you need to talk to your father
About all your texting.
The phone bill came in last
month, and I gotta say it--
- I can read this, though.
- What?
I think that says
"field interest."
And that there
on the line below
Is "Webster." see?
"field interview," maybe.
"Webster."
Webster street?
Does that help any?
Hmm!
Look, up in the sky!
It's a bird!
It's a plane!
It's--
oh, hell yeah.
I'm with you, New Orleans.
Bring this bird down to 8,000'.
Let's have a look-see.
Oh, no.
Oh, no, that's not
good at all.
Your city's wet--
really wet!
It must be twice as bad
on the ground.
twice as bad?
Twice as bad?
You think?!
- ♪ shame shame ♪
- ♪ shame on you ♪
♪ now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame
on you now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame ♪
♪ what you have done ♪
♪ we was on the ropes,
we were down and out ♪
♪ you flew on over,
never did come down ♪
♪ shame shame shame
on you now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame
on you now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame
what you have done... ♪
Now we've got
the people of New Orleans
Living on air force bases
and in ratty-ass motels
From Utah to Georgia,
And people in Washington
talking about keeping
The housing projects closed.
Yeah, that's right.
They don't want
no more poor people
Coming back to New Orleans.
But I'll tell you what, New
Orleans without poor people
Ain't New Orleans,
because it's the people
Without a pot to piss in
who keep the beat
And blow the horns
and step in the streets.
And right now y'all are stuck
listening to this messed-up white boy
Because whichever 14-year-old
from Lafitte projects
Is the next smiley Lewis--
He's stuck out there
in East Bumfuck, Texas.
He can't get home
to sing this fucking song!
♪ shame shame shame
on you now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame
on you now, dubya ♪
♪ shame shame shame
about what you've done! ♪
Whoo!
What? What?
That was great!
- Yes, indeed.
- That was some true shit!
Just to make absolutely sure we're
talking about the Sameerson.
Sure, that's David.
And you've been
looking for him?
Here I am sampling
your menu once a week
With no clue that
David worked for you.
The family mentioned other
restaurants-- mister B's, Irene's.
Daymo worked different
places different nights.
We don't see
the Webster street mention
Of a parole Agent's visit,
I don't find you.
How long did he work here?
We hired him about four months
before the storm, maybe five.
Dishwasher to start.
But by August, he was a back waiter.
- Reliable, huh?
- Sure, yeah.
- Right until Katrina, anyway.
- And then what happened?
Uh, I called Jacques early that morning
right before the rain started.
'cause I was already in Alabama and Jacques
was getting out of town with his cousin,
But we forgot the meat
in the freezer, so...
So I called Daymo because
I knew he hadn't left.
And I asked if he could
go by the restaurant
And take the meat to
a shelter or give it away.
- And he say, "no problem."
- He had a key?
We kept one
in the false brick front
Outside the kitchen entrance
for emergencies.
And the hurricane
was an emergency, so...
And the meat?
Rancid as anything
when we got back.
I had to replace
the walk-in.
The door key was
where we left it.
And Daymo?
Never came back.
The mobile number we had
for him was dead.
And nothing.
If he got locked up, it was
for something, you know?
Or maybe he started
gettin' high in jail.
If he did get out somehow,
He could be in Houston
or wherever right now.
And he ain't gonna pick up
the phone 'cause he ashamed.
He wouldn't call to
let you know where he at?
If he usin',
that'd break mama's heart.
you must be...
Koichi Toyama.
- You are Antoine Batiste?
- Yeah.
Welcome to New Orleans.
Get you something
before you two set off?
Oh... Sazerac, perhaps?
Don't get much call
for sazeracs in here.
Got a second choice?
Abita Amber?
That we can do.
I see you've been
down here some.
Thank you.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
- Mmm!
I bet you miss these.
They got sandwiches
in Houston, daddy--
Lots of good food.
Great Mexican.
- Mmm.
...Strong buildings
And new schools
Because our future is here.
New Orleans is our home.
I am happy...
That's the man
that ducked me yesterday.
Baby, can you drive me East?
- What, now?
- Mm-hmm.
Chief.
- Hey, bro.
- Nice to see you, man.
What are you doing
way out here in the East?
Trying to get with your boss.
Apparently, I gotta go
everywhere he go.
Any given moment, we're
all over the city, you know?
- Mm-hmm.
- Tryin' to help folk get back.
Yeah, some are getting back
faster than others.
Yeah. The amazing thing
about the Vietnamese
Is that they're doing it
on their own.
They're not getting help
from anybody.
And still your boss is down here
to share some of the credit, huh?
You upset about
something, chief?
Y'all need to open up
Calliope or Lafitte.
My people want to come on
back home before Mardi Gras.
Now you open up just a few
of them buildings
And we'll take care
of the rest.
- Projects are federal.
- That don't mean
That y'all can't press 'em
to do the right thing.
I mean, I wouldn't mind seeing
a little something from y'all
About getting our people
back home too.
Chief?
- Chief.
- Ron.
Good to see you.
Eric, you ready to--
- Can I talk with you, Ron?
- What's going on, chief?
My gang wants to
come on back home.
But they need places to stay.
- I understand.
- Now the projects sittin' there empty.
They didn't flood,
didn't blow over.
Oh, chief, wish I could do it.
But you know
that's not my call.
Hey, you know
my door's always open.
Eric, make sure chief
Lambreaux gets in to see me.
- Yes, sir.
- Chief.
Chief, I'll call you.
Joint up the block usually
has some decent brass.
At first when I am
informed of your name,
I am uncertain.
Alvin Batiste, trombone?
No, he plays clarinet.
No, not old Alvin.
You know, that's a whole 'nother
world of talent right there.
From a computer, I find out
Antoine Batiste recorded
with preservation hall
And also a live recording
with Shannon Powell
And Germaine bazzle.
These recordings I myself own.
Your intonation is notable
And your attack
very satisfactory.
You know,
I can play some. Yeah.
Ever since I hear
the hot five's record
"you made me love you,"
I have been a jazz fan.
Yeah, Kid Ory will do it
to you every time.
No, Hy Clark played that
number-- just that number.
Oh, Hy Clark?
Yes! That album
was my beginning.
Then when I come first
to New Orleans
And I hear such good
live music,
I couldn't believe it.
After that, I buy every record
That comes to Japan.
Your remember the sweet Emma
record on riverside?
"the bell gal and
her dixieland boys"?
Oh yeah, big eye Louis.
He could play.
Regrettably, I must
again correct you.
It was Jim Robinson.
What'd I say?
Big eye?
Oh, no, you know
I meant big Jim.
After Katrina,
Every time I listen
to those records, I cry.
That's why my jazz group
decided to come
To do what we can.
And we are glad
that you are here.
- Oh.
- Eh.
A pawn shop?
This is unacceptable.
Say what?
Well, I would feel badly
if I come all this way
To purchase a used trombone
for you, Mr. Batiste.
Please, spare me no expense.
Also we spoke of
big eye Louis Nelson.
I heard big eye
at preservation hall
With kid Thomas Valentine.
- Thomas Valentine?
- Yes.
- 1985. - 1985?
You were over here in '85?
Yes yes! That was my
first time in New Orleans.
That changed my life.
Eggplant, garlic soup,
grilled shrimp.
Got it, chef.
Firin' 'em.
Pork chop, mid-rare.
Pork chop, kill it, no sauce.
Four pork, all day,
mixed grill, sweetbreads.
Four porks on, chef.
One left, then 86 the pork.
- Only one more chop.
Spread the word. - Okay.
Sweetbreads, trout, trout.
Two trout, all day.
Sirloin, mid-rare,
béarnaise on the side.
Four guys with a lot
of attitude just walked in.
They're dropping John Besh's
name, but no reservation.
Should I tell them 40 minutes?
Holy Christ!
Jacques, it's Tom Colicchio
and Eric Ripert
And David Chang and, just
for laughs, Wylie Dufresne.
Squeeze them
in table seven now.
Besh fucked us--
fucked us good.
Jacques, be thinking about what the
hell we're gonna cook these guys.
Chef, so nice of you
to call ahead.
It was a last-minute thing.
We just got into town.
We're doing this
charity gig tomorrow night
And John said this is
the place we have to come.
- He didn't call?
- No.
- John says hi, by the way.
- Right back at him.
- Chef, let me introduce you to everybody.
- Oh, no need. I know.
Hi, Wylie, hello.
David, hi.
Eric, hi.
I'm Janette.
- Pleasure.
- Tom.
Well, I have a great table
for you guys,
If you want to follow me.
Looks like you're
recovering nicely.
Oh, looks can be deceiving.
We won't be needing those,
Louise, thank you.
We're psyched to be
in your hands.
And please don't be shy.
We are starving.
Done. All right, chefs.
It is an honor to meet you all.
- Have a good time.
- Thank you.
Jacques?
What do you got for me?
Smoked salmon
around some caviar,
Seafood truffle stew,
fingerlings,
Then the lamb off the menu.
We can't out-new York a bunch of
New York chefs. We lowball 'em.
We start with the sweet potato,
andouille shrimp soup.
Then we get the rabbit kidneys
out of the freezer--
They're tiny;
They're gonna thaw fast.
We skewer them with some
lardons of the Benton's bacon.
Then we hit 'em with sweetbreads
and crawfish over grits.
You're a devious devious woman.
You think? Okay, how about
this for the last plate?
We've still got the braised
lamb neck from staff meal?
You are my chef forever.
Then I saw a picture
with Armstrong
And he was playing trombone.
Pops? Trombone?
Cash or charge on this?
But a little trombone,
like a baby.
That must have been an alto.
No no no no.
Then I understand--
- Slide trumpet.
- Ahh!
- That's what it was.
- Yeah, slide trumpet. Yes, indeed.
But it make no sense
Because Kid Ory was in the
photograph with his trombone.
Kid Ory?
With the king oliver band?
No no no.
That wasn't Kid Ory, bro.
With the creole jazz band?
Hell no.
Yes, Kid Ory.
Dawg, that was Honoré Dutrey
On the trombone in that photo.
I know the photo
you talkin' about.
- Honoré Dutrey.
- Kid Ory.
It was Honoré Dutrey
Holding a trombone
in that picture.
I know I'm right
and you're wrong
Because I damned well named my
daughter after Honoré Dutrey.
Cash or credit?
Or do you two want to
take this outside?
Whoo.
Take a picture
of that shit, my friend.
Thank you for indulging me,
Mr. Batiste.
I can be exuberant
When I talk about music.
No, man, that was
my bad back there.
I mean, damn, how you
gonna talk about
Me indulging you
when I'm standing here
- With a brand-new trombone.
- Well, this is my pleasure.
You were here in Katrina?
Oh, hell no.
I wouldn't be all the way
out here except for the storm.
My midcity place
was under 5' of water.
I've been here since.
And your car?
My car? No car.
How can you get around?
I make do.
Hey, you want me
to blow this thing?
Oh. Well, that would be
too much trouble.
Oh, it's no problem.
Hold on.
Kid Ory, "struttin' with
some barbeque."
note for note.
Goodbye, Antoine Batiste.
Oh no, man, you've done enough.
Okay, put the isle flotant in front of Ripert.
It's his favorite.
Colicchio said you can cook.
What?
How did he say it?
I mean, exactly
what did he say?
He said it kind of offhanded,
like, "she can really cook."
He said, "she can cook"
or "she can really cook"?
He said "really.
" and the other guys, like, agreed.
- What did they say?
- They were like, "yeah."
Jacques!
- How was everything?
- Awesome food, chef.
Oh, thank you.
Rabbit kidneys, huh?
Nice touch.
- Benton's bacon, right? - Yeah.
I sprinkle that stuff on my breakfast cereal.
You know, Janette, if you ever
find yourself up in New York,
Please, I'd love
to return the favor.
It would be my pleasure
to cook for you.
- Give me a call, really.
- All right, thank you.
Thanks again, you guys.
I hope you had a great time.
- And thanks for coming in.
- Thanks, chef.
French, eh? You gotta throw
a little French in there?
- We're in New Orleans.
- Yeah, I know what you're after.
So what's the occasion anyway?
The occasion is they're coming
home, for today anyway.
New Orleans is coming home, man.
Just watch and learn.
Who's ready for
another cold one?
Man, I can't even taste the
beer with the smell of mold in here.
Can't we meet somewhere else?
The captains of krewe de vieux
have been meeting
At the mother-in-law
since '96.
We're not going
anywhere, Donny.
Not after miss
Antoinette was good enough
- To unlock this lounge for us.
- Next item of business?
Some of our subkrewes, they want
some kind of acknowledgement
Of the storm--
a serious acknowledgment,
Not that tongue-in-cheek
thing we usually do.
I'm most serious when
my tongue's in my cheek.
Well, how serious an acknowledgment
are we talking about here?
Well, like a riderless horse
at the head of the parade.
The sacred purpose of krewe du
vieux is to mock the serious.
- Vote. - All in favor of
a serious acknowledgment
At the head of this year's
krewe du vieux parade?
- No.
- Yes.
- No.
- No.
No.
K-doe abstains.
The motion fails.
- Here they come. Captain?
A respite to appreciate
the second line?
Yes!
Jesus.
Hey!
Wow!
Oh!
How's it going?
It's beautiful, no problems.
The cops are a little
freaked out by the numbers,
But I'm glad we got as many
people as we do volunteering.
- Nobody expected this
many people back. - No.
This almost didn't happen.
- This had to happen.
It's great. - Yeah.
I'm gonna fall back and see what's
going on with the third division.
Oh, come on, v.I.P.S!
Go to work!
Work work work!
Work, v.I.P.S!
Work work!
- Kim!
- Whaah!
Oh my God, you made it!
I'll be-- I'll catch up with you.
Go ahead, I'll catch up
with you.
Marcus, right?
Been wondering
about my brother.
- How he doin'?
- Haven't heard from him since the storm.
- You seen him?
- Me?
I was in Atlanta till,
like, new years.
I just need to know,
before the storm,
Was Daymo back to using?
Wasn't copping
from me if he was.
Last I knew,
he let the shit be.
That's it?
I'm just trying to
figure it out, you know?
Well, if I hear something,
you got the bar open, right?
Yeah. Yeah, I been back
a while now.
Figured it was time
for me to come back too,
See what's happening.
Yeah.
Okay then.
Take it easy.
Davis!
Janette!
Hey, babe.
You won't believe what happened to
me at the restaurant last night.
You will not believe this!
- Check it out!
- What?
Check it out!
- Yeah, I'm gonna follow him!
- That was different.
Oh, man, don't even try to act
like it wasn't fucking awesome.
The band was fucking
on fire, man.
He's shooting!
Annie?
Annie?
We got a man down!
Man down, man down!
- Man down.
- Annie!
For many it was a stark
reminder of a New Orleans
Many hoped Katrina
had washed away.
When the fuck did that happen?
I didn't hear any gunshots.
I was at the whole second line, man.
Man, three people shot.
You believe that shit?
That's messed up.
That was a hell of a parade.
Look like all the knucklehead
shit must be coming back to town.
I can only quote
Antoine Batiste--
"New Orleans niggers
will fuck up a wet dream."
You know, now the media
is gonna freak the fuck out,
Our cops-- shit.
- Hey, white boy.
- I mean, they're just--
They're just looking for an excuse
to clamp down on the second lines.
Yo, white boy,
what was that you said?
I was saying that the cops are
gonna take this and run with it.
Naw, that ain't what you said.
Say "nigger" again.
What?
Oh, bro, bro...
No, I live
in this neighborhood, so...
Say it.
I dare you.
you dare me?
Davis, shut up, man.
He just dared me to say "nigger.
" what is that all about?
- Like I'm like--
- Shh. Shh.
"shh? Shh?"
all right.
All right, all right.
Okay.
Just for the sake
of discussion,
What's gonna happen
if I--
Oh, man!
Come on, man.
- Davis, you okay, man?
- Fuck off! Fuck!
Fuck this!
- Wait up, Davis.
- Leave me the fuck alone, man!
Shh.
Donald, he's conscious.
How the fuck--
We found you lying in the street
last night just by our gate.
Rough night?
We thought to take you home,
but you had no keys.
No wallet either.
Coffee?
Uh...
You guys brought me in?
We're your neighbors.
Yes, sir?
What's the most trombone
I can buy for that?
The conn, probably.
Now is it for you
or for a kid taking lessons?
- Because you could rent.
- Nah.
I have a hell of a horn
right now, me.
This is for a friend
who lost his in the storm.
Nah.
What the fu-- let me see
that one right there.
What does that say, bro?
"a. B. '79."
Mm-hmm.
"a. B.," mother--
You know I'm not
picking that up.
I'm taking this to
the U.S. Attorney's office.
Those guys not only beat
my client down,
They took his property down
to Carondelet street for pawn.
Never mind dirty--
I expect dirty in this town,
But that's just stupid.
Like they want to get caught.
Toni, between the guys
who quit during the storm
And the guys that
we fired afterwards,
I'm at 60% in this district.
And the guys who
are still on the job--
They got no homes, no money.
Their families are living
out of town, most of them.
I got guys drinking, guys who won't
get out of their cars to work.
Never mind some of them worked two
weeks straight after the storm.
They were fucking heroes.
Now they know what the rest
of the world thinks.
They've seen
the New Orleans police
On the news for looting,
for beating on people,
For the Danziger bridge
shootings.
The guys who did this, it's--
It's like a cry for help.
It's all coming back, isn't it?
For a moment the storm
took it away--
No dope, no guns.
No guns, no bodies.
- You know Cosgrove?
- Mm?
The asac over
at the F.B.I. field office?
Ah.
He told me a story,
Came to him from
a Houston homicide guy
Who locked up some
New Orleans wonder
For a murder in that city.
The kid does his 60 days
in detention.
You know, gathers his stuff up,
Calls for a guard,
tells him that his time's up.
It's time to let him go.
Yeah.
And the kid explains, in New
Orleans when you shoot someone,
They hold you for 60 days
and let you go,
Which, let's face it,
is pretty much what we do
Given how fucked up Eddie
Jordan has the d.A.'s office.
Eddie's a joke, but his shop's
not the only one with problems.
I am telling you, Toni,
the wheels are off the cart.
And now just like those two assholes
shooting up the second line,
The crime is coming back.
And we ain't ready.
But you want to talk
about a trombone.
Hey, you.
Oh, you're reading
your old stuff, huh?
Thoreau had it wrong.
Most men lead lives
of quiet masturbation.
Cray, you're not gonna
believe the day I had--
My Agent called. She's coming
for a visit in a couple weeks.
- Yeah? - Carla said new
opportunities, new circumstances.
- Lots to talk about.
- You sound thrilled.
Good news comes by phone.
When a New York literary Agent
travels 1,000 miles,
That means the publisher
wants their advance returned.
I'm six years late
on this novel.
Random house is fed the fuck up
and wants their money back.
- She said that?
- With the money we spent
On the new roof and
lowering our mortgage,
Guess what--
I got nothing to give 'em.
- Creighton--
- What, Toni?
What?
That fuckin' Agent's
gonna ruin Mardi Gras.
Sorry, bro.
See you around, okay?