Treme (2010–2013): Season 1, Episode 8 - All on a Mardi Gras Day - full transcript

Next time you find yourself in
trouble, you call judge Williams.

If I quit
the city council race...

Then you have a new friend.

You're working on the novel.
That's great.

It's shit. What the fuck
am I doing here anyway?

How's he doing?

Well, I'll know exactly when
his blood work comes back,

But he's not well.

This is your new kitchen.

Yeah. No staff, no silverware;
just me and my propane.

Why is that goddamn blue tarp
back on the roof again?



You are hereby served.

Y'all are crazy
to work for this man.

Like as not, he gonna plead poverty
when it come time to pay y'all.

Once I'm set up in there,
you call the tv station.

He will not leave until these
apartments are reopened.

No hum-bow.
( grunts )

This is my cousin's name.

What if Daymo said
he was Jerome cherry?

We're gonna have to
look at this body.

I am not bringing this news home
to my family during carnival.

( soul music playing )

♪ strutting on Sunday ♪

♪ lazy Sunday ♪

♪ ain't no need to worry
about working day Monday ♪



♪ or that 9-to-5 grind ♪

♪ gonna leave
it all behind ♪

♪ ain't gonna worry ♪

♪ it's my turn ♪

♪ I'm gonna walk away
my trouble, yeah... ♪

( laughing )

♪ lazy Sunday,
taking it my way... ♪

I'm lighting
a candle for David.

All right, mama.

♪ you must've been
a v.I.P. ♪

♪ for the second line is wild ♪

♪ the c.B.D.,
bourbon street ♪

♪ the cable and ursaline ♪

♪ you can join on any corner ♪

♪ enjoy it as it pass ♪

♪ it's the second line
on Monday ♪

♪ and boy, the crowd is fast ♪

- ♪ oh, over in the ♪
- ♪ Glory land ♪

♪ he's gone to meet
the Holy man ♪

♪ over in the glory land... ♪

Yeah, sadness on the rise.

♪ second line's in order ♪

♪ they'll be dancing
all the way ♪

♪ when the preacher
cut loose the body ♪

♪ and the band
begins to play. ♪

Y'all sound fantastic together.

Oh, thank you.

I used to hear
that tune on o.Z.

Yeah, it's Chuck Carbo.
You from here?

Lakeview.

Lost my house.

Three of my neighbors
drowned on my block.

Uh, been living in st. Louis
with my in-laws.

But I'm home for
Mardi Gras, baby, huh?

( voice breaking )
home for Mardi Gras.

Happy Mardi Gras, honey.

( jazz music playing )

♪ 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 trombo 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 ♪

Two days to get
a fuckin' phone call--

Two days.

You hit that cop, right?

You were all in his face.

What he supposed
to do, ignore it?

( laughs )

I appreciate you coming down.

You talk to that lawyer?

Bail hearing tomorrow afternoon.
Be home before dinner.

A lot to do before Tuesday.

You're still gonna mask?

Never mind.

I heard you twice
the first time.

Now do me a favor--
go down to Poke's

And tell 'em "keep sewing."

( bass pulsing )

Bro, if you'd have taken
Jefferson highway to magazine

To get into town like I told
you, it would've been cheaper.

You're killing me, dawg.
$28 on the meter.

I'm good for it, man.

Just pick me up at 2:00
right here, baby,

Take me home.

And you owe me $6 from the
last time I picked you up.

- ( laughing )
- Ha ha, you think I forgot?

( laughing )
yeah.

No, man, no no.
I got you, baby.

- I got you.
- All right.

- 2:00 now.
- All right.

- 2:00.
- Okay.

You know my dad-- he ain't
leaving valence street, ever.

I heard cyril was in Austin.

- And Aaron's in Nashville.
- Oh, there he is.

- Hey, man, what's happening?
- Ivan.

Hey, man, your daddy
coming back?

Not till the air
gets better, man.

- He got that asthma thing, you know.
- Aw, man, I hope they do.

I mean, New Orleans
without the Nevilles?

- Got two Nevilles right here.
- Heh-hey, true that.

- Man, you working on Mardi Gras?
- Oh, huh-uh.

I do not work
on Mardi Gras day.

Oh, no no no. Under no circumstances.
Especially this one.

- People coming home for this.
- Yeah, you're right.

- No doubt, man.
Let's do this, bro. - Yeah, bro.

( crowd whooping, cheering )

Dumpstaphunk back in the nola.

( funk music playing )

♪ they actin' a fool
on capitol hill ♪

♪ bombs over Baghdad,
business as usual ♪

♪ a single battle
can't pay the bill ♪

♪ some American idol singin'
"we the beautiful" ♪

- ♪ meanwhile ♪ - ♪ Six
months since Katrina hit ♪

♪ I still ain't got
my FEMA check ♪

♪ got a trailer, no electric ♪

♪ and I can't seem
to find my keys ♪

♪ meanwhile ♪

♪ you might as well
have a good time ♪

♪ meanwhile ♪

♪ gonna shake your
pretty Booty, baby ♪

♪ meanwhile ♪

♪ 'cause there might not
be a next time ♪

♪ meanwhile... ♪

Hey, honey.

When's daddy moving back in?

When he finishes
what he's writing.

He seems so bummed.

Mardi Gras always
cheers him up.

Thank you for yesterday.
That was nice.

I needed a real day off.

Yeah, that's pretty much
a normal day for me.

( laughs ) I know.

That's the problem
with New Orleans--

Too many people live like you.

Au contraire.
Not enough people do.

Speaking of work, I gotta go.

Uh, do you need help tomorrow?

- I already asked Jacques.
- Aw.

I know you mean it, but asking
you to work Mardi Gras--

That's like asking
Paul Prudhomme

Not to use fat, salt
and cayenne pepper.

You know, I gotta say this:

I'm concerned about
your eternal soul.

I'm not positive,

But it may be a mortal sin
to work Mardi Gras.

Just the morning.

That would be venial.
All right, 10 hail Marys.

Go forth, my child,
and sin no more.

- Have a good one.
- Yep.

- ( starts engine ) - Hey, maybe
we'll run into each other.

- Fuck off.
- Yeah.

( both laugh )

( ticking )

- ( sighs )
- Any minute, mama.

Should've put the gumbo on,
but I can't till they get here.

Once I get started
with that roux, I'm stuck.

You don't need to be standing
over a stove all morning.

You just let me
help you out here.

- ( snickers )
- ( Doorbell rings )

- They're here.
- ( Both giggle )

- Hey!
- Mommy!

- Hey, baby!
- Mema!

Hey, mother-in-law.

- How are you doing?
- Mm.

You okay?

I'm fine.

- How was the drive?
- Well, no traffic.

- Yeah? Come and get you something to eat.
- All right.

- Morning.
- Hey, stranger.

- Or is it afternoon?
- Just barely.

- Looking for some lunch?
- I'm good.

What are you working on?

Oh, the next step--
a proper autopsy.

I thought that was on hold.

Oh, yeah, until
after the holiday.

The family can't
focus right now.

How's it going?

- I'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
- Oh, that's great.

As long as it's not the proverbial
oncoming high-speed light rail.

( laughing )

- Daddy! - True about
absence and a fonder heart.

- Hi, sweet pea.
- Hey.

You sure you don't
want some lunch?

I was gonna take a ride,
clear my head,

Get a coffee.

Can I come?

- Please?
- Yeah, sure.

Let's go.

( ringing )

- Mr. Foster.
- Hey, Delmond.

Listen, I'm sorry
to tell you this.

The hearing's been postponed
now till Wednesday.

Aw, fuck.
You can't be serious.

I don't know exactly
what's going on er there.

I do-- they're sending
him a message.

- I suppose they are.
- Bet your ass.

You keep a big chief locked up on
Mardi Gras day-- that's a message.

I don't know if you can
change your plans.

- I guess I have to.
- All right.

Sorry about this, man.
Have a good Mardi Gras.

Yeah, I'll see you Wednesday.

All right,
I'll see you then.

Anything else I can get you?

A hotel room.

Heh, good luck
with that, brother.

It's like seeing
an ancient ruin.

That's where jaeger's
used to be.

Fitzgerald's.

Bruning's,
both of them--

The new one and the original,

Which was wrecked
by hurricane georges--

The third oldest
restaurant in the city

After Antoine's
and Tujague's, 1859.

Back in the day
it was a cabaret.

They had slot machines,
dancing girls--

All kinds of mischief.

Over there, that was a foot
bridge to the bruning home,

The one they used
in "the big easy."

- Hey, Cher?
- Fais do-do, baby.

And then also
over to sid-mar's.

Where was sid-mar's?

See the pumping station?

- Wow.
- Gone.

( sighs )

Like it never existed.

- It's really creepy.
- Yeah.

It's good to get out
and see the destruction.

It's good.

Get off the isle of denial
every once in a while

And be reminded how much
of the city is still wrecked.

- I know, but-- - Yeah,
tomorrow, fat Tuesday--

You know the exact date?

February 28th.

Six months almost to the day.

Six months.

And we're gonna party
like we know how,

Second line like
there's no tomorrow,

Mardi Gras our asses off

In the ruins
of the Crescent city.

And we should.

But it's good to keep
this in mind too.

I know.

I'm bumming you out, aren't I?

Kinda, yeah.

Let's go catch a parade.

♪ red, yellow, green,
purple or blue ♪

♪ we make a new suit... ♪

Oh shit!

- ( laughing )
- What the fuck?

Y'all wanna see
a grown man cry?

That shit ain't funny, man.

I'm afraid I got
some bad news, y'all.

You sure you don't
need a place to stay?

I got the room.

Thanks, I got a friend in the quarter.
I can just stay with him.

- You tell your father I'm thinking of him.
- Wish I could.

I won't see him
till Wednesday now either.

I hate to think of him all alone
on Mardi Gras of all days.

It is his sacred holiday, all right.

- Not you?
- To be honest,

In my opinion New Orleans
is better off without it.

- Really?
- Why not put all that time,

Energy and money
into fixing up the place?

Well, excuse me.
I got a little more work to do.

St. Joseph's less
than three weeks away.

Right.

( jazz music playing )

( crowd cheering )

Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.

My name is Bob french.

We're gonna take a slight pause
for a very worthy cause.

We'll be back
in a little bit.

- Don't you go nowhere, hear?
- Crowd: Yeah!

Al Johnson.
It must be carnival time.

Antoine batiste, you tore
it up, man, tore it up.

- It's good to see you, man.
- Same here.

- Awesome, batiste. Just awesome.
- Thank you, man.

- You good?
- I'm good.

I'm better than good.

- I'll see you, man.
- All right.

- Antoine batiste?
- Whoa!

Oh ho ho,
Mr. Toyama!

- What you doing here?
- Mardi Gras.

I thought this year,
this would be the year.

Yeah, it's good to see you.
It's good to see you.

- Let me buy you a drink.
- It would be my honor to buy you a drink.

Oh no, God damn it.

I'm gonna buy you
a drink, all right?

- Take yes for an answer.
- I accept.

- All right.
- Thank you.

Two jameson and cokes.

A Mardi Gras drink.
You'll like it.

"milenberg joys," one of my
favorite jelly roll Morton songs.

Yeah?

You know what
milenberg was, huh?

The red-light district--
yeah, out by the Lake.

Before storyville.
Long gone now.

"milenberg joys"--
original recording,

New Orleans rhythm kings, 1923.

George Brunies on trombone.

All right, I'll take
your word for it.

Cheers.

- Happy Mardi Gras.
- Happy Mardi Gras.

- Very sweet.
- That's why I like it.

Now listen,
you may have noticed

I'm playing my old trombone.

Oh, please, no need to explain.

No, it's an interesting story.

See, I found my old one,

In a pawnshop
as a matter of fact.

A pawnshop?
Really?

So I gave the one you bought me

To my teacher, Danny Nelson.

He lost all of his
in the storm,

Including the 'bone
kid Ory gave him

When they were gigging out
on the West coast.

- So anyway-- - I was very sorry to hear of Mr.
Nelson's passing.

- You heard?
- It was big news in Japan.

Really?

Well, among fans of traditional

New Orleans jazz music, yes.

That's good to hear.

Pssh, 'cause it should've
been bigger news here.

So anyway, it was passed on

To his grandson.

So you see, that's how
we do it in New Orleans,

How a tradition lives on.

- Very Japanese.
- No kidding?

Grandfather to grandson.

That pleases me very much.

To Danny Nelson.

( slaps bar )

To Danny Nelson.

Good parade, sweetie?

I love the night parades.

Momus, that was
my favorite night parade.

You're too young to remember.

You were about two
when they stopped rolling.

Momus, the God of mockery.

The parades were
political, satirical.

I can't believe
you're waxing nostalgic

About the knights of momus.

Masked riders on horseback
with pointy hoods?

- Hello?
- The parades were beautiful.

The floats,
the flambeaux--

Black men carrying
flaming propane torches

And scrambling for change
tossed in the street.

It had its antebellum
aspects, I'll admit.

- That's part of carnival.
- I hate the flambeaux and the hooded masked riders.

I wished they'd do away
with all that.

I wouldn't miss the old line
carnival stuff at all.

- I would. - That's because
you're not from here.

When you grow up with it,
it has a whole other meaning.

Sometimes they throw the
baby out with the king cake.

I like endymion.
That's my favorite.

( fakes choking )

Super Krewes--

B-list celebrities,
tons of plastic beads.

Like everything else
in American culture--

Cheap, mass-produced,
made in China.

Well, thanks for raining
on my parade.

You're welcome.
Mwah.

- Good night, honey.
- Night.

- Night, mama.
- Night night.

I've gotta go to bed too.

Don't you stay up too late.

- Big day tomorrow.
- Don't I know it.

Mm-hmm.

- Where are you going?
- It's Mardi Gras, darling.

I know.

I thought we were spending
the day together.

You know, I think
I need a day apart.

Like the rebirth says,
"do what you wanna."

That's what today's
all about, right?

You just wanna get high.

That's what you wanna do.

Be good... Or don't.

Fucking asshole.

( piano music playing )

This should be
our national anthem.

Sounds kinda like
a national anthem.

Bobby short said "satin doll"

Should be our national anthem.

Oh, what does he know?

I'd cast a vote for
"it ain't necessarily so."

That'd be my second choice.

Well, let's go.

- You gonna turn that off?
- No no no no no.

It's bad luck to turn it off.

It's on repeat.
It'll stay on till we get home.

- Hup-hup.
- Whoohoo!

- Bye, grandma.
- Bye, grandma.

Bye.
( chuckles )

- Y'all have fun. - Man, I wish
you were coming with us, grandma.

- Ooh, baby, grandma too old for the parades.
- No, you're not.

Tell you what, maybe
I'll go next Mardi Gras,

When we're all together again.

Larry: We'll be back
for that gumbo.

Mrs. Brooks:
Have a blessed day.

♪ you oughtta go see
the Mardi Gras ♪

♪ if you go
to New Orleans ♪

♪ you oughtta go see
the Mardi Gras... ♪

( gun clatters )

♪ when you see
the Mardi Gras ♪

♪ somebody'll tell you
what's carnival for... ♪

"get out of jail free"
card, yes.

♪ get your ticket
in your hand ♪

♪ if you wanna go
through New Orleans ♪

♪ if gond ♪
through New Orleans ♪

♪ you know, when you get
to New Orleans ♪

♪ somebody'll show you
the zulu king ♪

♪ you will see
the zulu king ♪

♪ down on st. Claude
and dumaire ♪

♪ you know, you'll see
the zulu king ♪

♪ down on st. Claude
and dumaire ♪

♪ and if you stay
right there ♪

♪ I'm sure you'll see
the zulu queen... ♪

( shower running )

- Happy Mardi Gras, baby.
- Aw, thank you, baby.

- I hope this is a good spot.
- It's where we always come.

Yeah, but with zulu not rolling
all the way up this year...

Folks will be here,
you'll see--

Driving up from Florida, Texas.

- Yeah, you're right.
- ( Both laughing )

Give me one more.
Mwah!

- Happy Mardi Gras. - Happy Mardi Gras, baby.
That's how we do it.

♪ if you go
to New Orleans ♪

♪ you oughtta go see
the Mardi Gras ♪

♪ when you see
the Mardi Gras ♪

♪ somebody'll tell you
what's carnival for ♪

♪ get your ticket
in your hand... ♪

- ( crowd shouting ) - ♪ If you
wanna go through New Orleans ♪

♪ get your ticket
in your hand ♪

♪ if you wanna go
through New Orleans ♪

- ♪ you know, when you get to New Orleans...
♪ - Whoa!

♪ somebody'll show you
the zulu king ♪

♪ you will see
the zulu king ♪

♪ down on st. Claude
and dumaire ♪

♪ you know, you'll see
the zulu king ♪

♪ down on st. Claude
and dumaire ♪

♪ and if you stay
right there ♪

♪ I'm sure you'll see
the zulu queen. ♪

( whistling melody )

- Mm, Davis!
- Daddy!

- Happy Mardi Gras, y'all.
- How about a bloody Mary?

Is the sun over the yardarm?

Ooh, I think it is,
Captain hook.

No, Jean lafitte!

Ooh, you are such a hypocrite.

Lafitte was a slave-trader, you know.

- He was?
- Mm-hmm.

- He was not.
- He was.

- He was?
- ( Grunts )

Oh well, I'll do
my research next time.

Besides, I prefer
to emphasize his role

- In the battle of New Orleans.
- Oh, that's convenient.

♪ in 1814 we took
a little trip ♪

♪ along with colonel Jackson
down the mighty Mississippi ♪

♪ we took a little bacon
and we took a little beans ♪

♪ and we caught
the bloody british ♪

♪ in the town of New Orleans ♪

♪ well, we fired our guns ♪

♪ and the british
kept a-comin' ♪

♪ there wasn't nigh as many
as there was a while ago ♪

♪ we fired once more
and they began to runnin' ♪

♪ on down the Mississippi
to the Gulf of Mexico... ♪

- Whoo!
- ( Crowd cheering )

- Yeah! - I always liked that
verse about the alligator.

How's that go?

Gator lost his mind,
powder up his ass.

- Mimi!
- Close enough.

Spare us, Mimi.
Spare us.

Are you staying
for Rex, darling?

I just stopped by
to use the facilities.

And you know what they say...

Ain't no place to pee
on Mardi Gras day.

But ossifer, I thought the
sign said "facilities street."

- Now that's funny!
- Still?

Oh my God.
McAlarys.

I rue the day I married
into this family.

- All: Oh!
- Yeah, y'all are incorrigible.

The same jokes every year and
they don't get better with age.

- It's a beautiful day though, huh?
- Perfect.

- Zulu was out of sight.
- They were tremendous as usual.

- I love zulu.
- I know you do, mother.

- It's one of your redeeming characteristics.
- I got a coconut.

- Don't you always?
- Pretty much.

I'm serving a light buffet.

You sure you won't
stay for Rex?

Formaldehyde on wheels?
No, thank you.

Need to bop down to frenchmen.

Later, gator.
Be good, girl.

♪ and they ran
through the briars ♪

♪ and they ran through
the brambles ♪

♪ and they ran
through the bushes ♪

♪ where the rabbits
couldn't go ♪

♪ they ran so fast that the
hounds couldn't catch 'em ♪

♪ down the Mississippi
to the gulf of Mexico. ♪

( all whooping )

Two for $5.

That's $15.

Hey! I like the blue tarp.

Yeah, it's a theme this year.

Oh, we heard about your restaurant.
So sorry.

What you gonna do?
Life goes on.

- And it's a beautiful day.
- It certainly is.

- What are you gonna have?
- What have you got?

Chicken and andouille gumbo,
crawfish beignets.

Beignets sound like breakfast.
I'll have those.

Toni:
Me too. Sofia?

- I'm good.
- You gotta eat.

Three orders of beignets
in case she changes her mind.

Coming right up.

Renée:
Miss Brooks, right?

Williams.

I guess we, uh, didn't ever
exactly meet in court.

Renee Dufossat.

Ladonna.

- What a day, huh?
- Whoo.

I'm seeing so many people
I haven't seen since the storm.

Me too--
just in for the day,

All the way from
Houston, atlanta--

Uh-huh.

Look, I hope you know in court

We have to represent
the office,

What it thinks is necessary.

You're just doing your job.
Yeah, I know.

Me, I'm glad the judge
ruled the way he did.

I hope you find
your brother soon.

- Happy Mardi Gras.
- Happy Mardi Gras.

Jasmine!
( laughing )

What a day, huh?

You couldn't ask for better.

I just hate that we can't
go up on claiborne.

They got all them
flooded cars still there.

They should've got them
gone for today.

Antoine, I might have
to take the baby home.

What, already?
It ain't even noon.

I thought we'd walk over
to the mother-in-law,

Maybe catch
the baby dolls--

Or hunter's field,
see some injuns.

- She won't last.
- Aw.

I'll walk up to galvez, call a cab.

Well, all right.
Here.

I won't be late now.

- Stay out as long as you want.
- What?

It's Mardi Gras.
Go on, have your fun.

- Uh, you saying what I
think you're saying? - No!

- ( laughs )
- ( Mocks laugh ) yeah.

I just wanna know
what the perimeters are.

- You know damn well what the
perimeters are. - All right.

- You get home safe.
- You too.

Bye, boo-boo.

♪ the zulu are doing
the second line ♪

♪ all on a Mardi Gras day ♪

♪ go and get a coconut ♪

♪ and drinking
beer and wine ♪

♪ all on a Mardi Gras day... ♪

( car horn honking )

Why would anyone try to
drive on Mardi Gras day?

Hey, are you crazy?

Crowd: Whoo!

- Happy Mardi Gras.
- My turn.

- Happy Mardi Gras.
- Happy Mardi Gras to all y'all.

Happy Mardi Gras.

I live in New York now-- nolita.

Lolita

Nolita-- "north of
little Italy."

I love New York.

A lot to love about New York.

You could show me.

I could.

Delmond, Delmond.

- Hey, what's going on?
- Hey, man.

- Randy, I want you to meet terence blanchard...
- How you doing?

- ...And cassandra Wilson.
- How are you?

- Y'all know Anthony?
- Man, it's New Orleans.

- Everybody knows everybody.
- That's true.

Delmond, how are
you doing, honey?

I'm good.
How are you?

I'm doing fine, thank you.

- How's New York treating you, man?
- Cool cool.

You here for carnival?
Right!

That thing with your dad, man.

- Yeah.
- Yeah. I'm sorry, man.

- That man got a heart of steel though.
- Head too.

Yeah. Let me
say hi to Anthony.

- All right, cool, bro.
- All right, see you later.

Good seeing you.

What's the thing with your dad?

( hip-hop music playing )

Hey, miss Ackey.

Well well well,
look who it is--

Miss Ladee.

- Mr. Riley, happy Mardi Gras.
- Oh, fuck you.

Some fuckin' happy Mardi Gras.

- Tell her I pay you on time.
- Yeah, he does.

- You know they arrested me?
- What are you talking about?

Because of your lawsuit, lady.

That's civil.

Attorney General,
fuckin' foti--

Making an example out of
so-called crooked contractors.

Came to my house and cuffed me
in front of my kids.

- Foti came to your house?
- Is you fuckin' stupid?

Police-- police came
to my house!

I just want a roof
over my bar, Mr. Riley.

Now I'm sorry.

- I didn't mean for that to happen.
- Well, it did.

So fuck you.
Fuck you!

Huh-uh, no, bro.
Fuck you.

Fuck you, motherfucker.

- Who the fuck is that?
- My ex-contractor.

Oh, that explains it.

- Happy Mardi Gras, baby.
- ( Both chuckling )

Happy Mardi Gras to you.

Yeah, where Larry and the boys?

They're all ck
at my mama's by now.

I'm going over to gigi's,
help Clarence with the bar.

Thank you, baby.

Hold on, baby.
I'm coming with you.

Hey, you ill?

I'm just not
feeling it this year.

Cray, it's such
a beautiful day.

Pete's not out,
the crowds are small,

Haven't seen the buzzards.

E buzzards are coming.

I like the small
crowds--

Not as many drunk college kids.

- I wanna stay for the truck parade.
- Well, of course you do.

Like you don't have
enough beads already.

( chuckles )

You know the number-one cause of
death in fires in New Orleans?

- Oh, daddy.
- It's not flames, not smoke.

It's toxic fumes
from all the plastic beads.

Hey, if you want us to come
home with you, we will.

No no, y'all stay.
Have fun.

I'll heat up the gumbo
when we get home.

It's not like your father
to quit on Mardi Gras.

Maybe he's coming down
with something.

( tribal music playing )

Ah, a pirate wench!
Just what I need.

Jean lafitte at your service.

Hello, Jean lafitte.

- You play fiddle at the apple barrel.
- Yeah.

I was in there one night,
you came in...

Never mind.

- Davis.
- Annie.

- Is this your first Mardi Gras?
- No, I was here last year.

But this one is different.

Yeah, I know.
This one's special.

Ah, as Professor longhair
would say,

When in New Orleans, one ought
to go see the Mardi Gras.

( "go to the Mardi Gras"
playing )

( whistling melody )

( music stops )

( sighs )

( belches )

- Janette: Is that it?
- Fini.

Ah, happy Mardi Gras, Jacques.

- Whoo!
- Happy Mardi Gras, janette.

Have fun.

♪ spread your feet... ♪

♪ lyin' back groovin' ♪

♪ ridin' in your car ♪

♪ don't make no difference ♪

♪ where you are ♪

♪ feel good music ♪

♪ I've been told ♪

♪ is good
for your body, yeah ♪

♪ and it's good
for your soul ♪

♪ come and get it now,
hey hey hey hey ♪

♪ hey pocky way. ♪

( jazz music playing )

- Happy Mardi Gras, baby.
- Happy Mardi Gras to you.

Remember me?

Sorry?

- I look familiar?
- No, I don't think so, no.

You the guy
with the boat, right?

Lizardi street.

I was half-dead
from the heat,

Chopping my way
out of my attic.

No water.

You took me off my rooftop.

That was you, right?

Lizardi street?
Yeah, it was.

Oh, man, am I glad to see you.

- Buy you a drink?
- Sure.

♪ yes, I'm going
to New Orleans ♪

♪ I'm gonna see
that Mardi Gras... ♪

Hey, baby, looking good.

- Where you at?
- Good, darlin'.

- How are you?
- I'm great.

- How's your day?
- Good.

Crowd:
Happy Mardi Gras!

You were at Donna's last night?

- I didn't see you there.
- With my boyfriend--

The guy I play with.

The piano player?

- Yeah.
- Oh.

I didn't know he was
your boyfriend.

Where is he today?

You know,
"do what you wanna."

I do know.
I've been there, done that.

You got a girlfriend?

Kind of, sort of.

I'm not really sure, but...

There's a lot of
creative shit out there.

Oh, there's my favorite.

( laughing ) "FEMA says the
beads will be here in April."

- ( hip-hop music playing ) by the
time he came along in his boat,

I was about ready to give up.

If it wasn't for him,
I wouldn't be here.

- Is that right?
- I don't know. I guess.

Everything happens
for a reason.

- Am I right?
- Yeah, you're right.

Just like running into
you today-- fate, right?

- Buy you both another drink?
- Why not?

- Hell, yeah.
- Be right back.

Nice place.

What, you're kidding, right?

This place is a dump.

( crowd yelling )

( jazz music playing )

- Woman: Hi, Anthony!
- Hey, Anthony.

- ( laughing ) janette!
- Where you at?

- You look fantastic
- Thank you.

How you doing? Mwah!
Happy Mardi Gras.

Happy Mardi Gras.
So where is it?

You've been promising to show me.
I wanna see it.

- Right here.
- Oh my God.

"Elvis Presley sat here
for the opening scene

In the movie
'king creole.'"

Oh my God, oh my God.
I'm gonna cry.

( laughs ) don't cry.

I had an Elvis scrapbook
when I was little.

- I know you did. - Well, it was
my sister's, but I didn't care.

- I love Elvis.
- I know you do, baby.

- Here, have one of these
Mardi Gras delights. - Ooh.

( imitates Elvis )
thank you very much.

( cajun music playing )

Man:
Oh, yeah!

God bless you.
Bless you.

- Bless you.
- All right.

Oh, yeah.

- Oh, the blessing.
- Reverend.

- Oh yes, the blessing.
- Reverend goat.

- Oh, yeah.
- Thank you.

Thanks for the blessings.

- You're sure welcome, my brother.
- Thank you.

I'd like to introduce
my pirate wench.

Oh! How are you,
young wench?

- Good. How are you?
- I'm well today.

- Here's a blessing for both of y'all.
- Thank you.

- Turn around. Let me get the back too.
- Thank you, thank you.

Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Uh-oh, uh-oh.

- Thank you, brother.
- Annie: Thank you.

Y'all go on and eat without me.

I gotta finish cleaning up.

No, Clarence left early.

I'll be all right.

Yeah, I love you too.

- ( tribal music playing )
- Annie: Amazing.

Hey, my neighbor Lolis
usually does gumbo.

You'll really like him.

He writes for
"the times-picayune."

He's having a gumbo party?

Yeah, we don't really
call it that here, but...

( ragtime music playing )

He's great, man.
Who the fuck is that?

Hey, who the fuck are you?

Is it magnie?

Cleary?

Torkanowsky?

That is the great
Tom Mcdermott.

Oh, you're kidding.

( song ends )

- ( crowd cheering )
- Yeah, whoo!

Whoo!

( neighing )
thank you, thank you.

Tom?

Hey, Annie.
Happy Mardi Gras.

Happy Mardi Gras, Tom.

Hey, Tom, can you play
"if ever I cease to love"?

Woman:
Oh, yeah.

- ( neighs )
- ( Laughter )

( playing "if ever
I cease to love" )

- Davis Mcalary.
- Jeffy Jeff, my negro.

( both speaking french )

Hey, since we're both
in the nabe,

You wanna stroll on down to old o.
Z. For old time's sake?

No, man, but guess
who's in the kitchen.

Darnell.

Darnell nichols?
Aw, fuck a duck.

Hey!

Come on, let's go.
We gotta go.

Later.

Abracadabra alakazam.

Jockomo feena nay.

- Whoo.
- What you doing, darlin'?

I'm turning this ordinary car

- Into a taxicab.
- Good luck, baby.

♪ my flag boy
and your flag boy ♪

♪ sittin' on the bayou ♪

♪ my flag boy
told your flag boy ♪

♪ I'm gonna set
your flag on fire ♪

♪ talking 'bout
hey now, hey now ♪

♪ iko I unday ♪

♪ jockomo feeno ah na nay ♪

♪ jockomo feena nay ♪

♪ huh... ♪

( sighs )

What is you?

Why, I'm...

I'm me!

And a wonderful me you are.

♪ see my guy
all dressed in green ♪

♪ iko iko unday ♪

♪ he's not a man,
he's a lovin' machine ♪

♪ jockomo feena nay ♪

- ♪ talking 'bout hey now ♪
- ♪ Hey now ♪

- ♪ hey now ♪
- ♪ Hey now ♪

♪ iko iko unday... ♪

♪ because, baby, I will ♪

♪ girl, you know
that I will ♪

♪ tell it like it is... ♪

( sighs )

♪ don't be ashamed ♪

♪ baby, let your conscience
be your guide... ♪

( chuckles )

♪ oh, I know,
I know, I know ♪

♪ deep down inside me... ♪

Oh, damn, ladonna.

You're carrying
it all right here.

Let me work that out.

♪ you know life's too short
to have sorrow... ♪

Oh.

- ( cell phone ringing )
- ♪ You may be here today ♪

♪ and gone tomorrow... ♪

( ringing stops )

♪ so you might as well
get what you want ♪

♪ baby, go on and live ♪

♪ girl, go on and live ♪

♪ tell it like it is ♪

♪ I'm nothing
to play with ♪

♪ go on and find
yourself a toy ♪

♪ yeah yeah yeah... ♪

♪ ooh-la-la... ♪

- Oh, boy, that was fun.
- Randy: Yeah.

- Aw, man. - I had a good time.
Thank you.

- You did?
- Yeah.

Aw, what the hell?

♪ ooh-la-la ♪

♪ right now, dance ♪

♪ spy boy Jack dupree... ♪

( Randy laughs )

♪ pretty yellow pocahontas
in New Orleans... ♪

Randy:
Wow, that's mysterious.

You have no idea.

( jazz music playing )

No, baby.
Hep "c."

So what do you say?

More where that came from?

First let's fuck.

Oh, baby.

( jazz music playing )

- ( song ends )
- ( Cheering )

Yeah! Thank you.
Thank y'all.

- Thank you so much.
- Y'all having a good Mardi Gras?

Crowd: Yeah!

- How about you?
- Hell, yeah!

Thanks for asking, bro.

- Saw me some indians tonight.
- Crowd: Yeah!

Forgot what a thrill
that was, man.

I got goosebumps.
I still got goosebumps.

- Crowd: Yeah!
- ( Mouthing words )

Indians on
Mardi Gras day, man.

Kind of makes you think, uh,

New Orleans just might make it.

- Crowd: Yeah.
- Delmond: You know?

It might just come back.

- Crowd: Yeah.
- Man: Right on.

- Right, Sam? - Yeah, you're right.
You already know.

Tell the people what the name
of this next tune is, bro.

This next tune right here's
"come down to New Orleans."

- Yeah!
- Crowd: Yeah!

Desatively.

♪ when you wanna have
a good time ♪

♪ come on down to New Orleans ♪

♪ come on down to New Orleans ♪

♪ come on down to New Orleans ♪

♪ when you wanna have
a good time ♪

♪ come on down to New Orleans ♪

♪ it's the prettiest ♪

♪ it's the prettiest little
thing you've ever seen... ♪

- Woman: Any moment now we will see...
- ( Door opens )

The Captain of comus--
the mistick krewe of comus.

And that's m-I-s-t-I-c-k,
we should say.

Lots of people
put that "y" in there,

But you're not
supposed to do that.

Man: I just had this
horrible thought

About the Captain comus
getting stuck in the elevator.

We're on
the fifth floor here.

Well, there are
escalators too.

If you'd still like
to go to the store--

Here we are,
the Captain of comus.

That would put me to sleep too.

( whistle trills )

Announcer: The Captain of
the mistick krewe of comus

Has arrived to present
an invitation

To his majesty Rex
to visit the comus ball.

- ( crowd yelling ) - Police: Mardi
Gras 2006 is officially over.

- Wow.
- Please clear the streets.

Annie: I've never seen
anything like this.

It's one thing n.O.P.D.
Is good at-- crowd control.

The best in the world.

At the stroke
of midnight, it's over.

Mardi Gras 2006
is officially over.

Please clear the streets.

It's been wonderful.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mardi Gras 2006
is officially over.

Please clear the streets.

We should get going.

Man: Whoo!

- My turn?
- Lead the way.

Mardi Gras 2006
is officially over.

( murmuring prayer )

( door opens )

You still up?

You know I don't sleep.
( Door closes )

What time did Larry
and the boys leave?

About 8:00.

He tried to call you, but...

I must have been in the back.

Been having trouble
with my phone all day.

- They okay?
- They're fine.

Did you eat? Plenty of gumbo left.
I can heat it up.

I'll do it.
You've done enough, mama.

Ladonna, everything okay?

- What do you mean?
- Between you and Larry.

Everything's fine, mama.

All right.

Everything's fine.

( blues rock music playing )

♪ it's sad but it's pretty
like New Orleans ♪

♪ I hate to see it
come apart at the seam.. ♪

- Hmm.
- ♪ Is this love? ♪

♪ this lonely love? ♪

♪ is this love? ♪

"sad but pretty
like New Orleans.

Hate to see it come apart
at the seams."

Carnival's done--

Farewell to flesh--

In the land of dreams,

In the land of dreamy dreams.

Way down yonder,
heaven on earth.

They called it New Orleans.

Living here now
is like a dream,

The way that everything
in a dam is the same

Yet not the same,
familiar yet strange,

Not quite right,

But you just can't
put your finger on it.

New Orleans
was a soap bubble--

And it had a hell of a run.

But now it's done.

Whatever comes next...

Is just a dream
of what used to be.

I wonder when they stopped
doing midnight mass

For Ash Wednesday.

We can come back
at 7:00 A.M.

No, I don't think so.

( laughs )

All right, ready?

There.

What do you think?

I think burned "gambit"
pages work pretty well.

( coughing )

What?

I didn't give up weed for lent.

Oh, what did you give up?

I'll have to get back
to you on that.

What about you?

Oh, I'm thinking about
going home maybe

For a while.

- Home?
- New York.

Wow! You're giving up
New Orleans for lent?

That's radical.

I don't know.
Maybe.

I'm anticipating
munchies momentarily.

Beignets?

Beignet, done that.

( Annie laughs )

Well...

Well...

Good night.

Good night, Davis.

( engine starts )

Cray?

Cray, wake up!

Get up!

You want Sofia
to find you like this?

Pull yourself together.

Remember that you are dust

And to dust you shall return.

Thank you.

How was your Mardi Gras?

It was good.

It was real good, actually.

It was a beautiful day.

I met a girl, I sat in on a gig

And I saw some indians.

- Sounds a perfect day.
- It was.

Sorry I missed it.

- Which gang?
- Creole osceola.

- Were they pretty?
- Real pretty.

Not as pretty as y'all
would've been, but pretty.

St. Joseph's coming.
You'll be out there.

You'll be the prettiest.

Yeah, you're right.

( door opens )

Mrs. Williams.

( blueGrass music playing )

♪ friends are calling
'cause I've fallen down ♪

♪ joined the circus
but I ain't no clown ♪

♪ there's fire-eaters
and some midgets too ♪

♪ around the corner
right next to the zoo ♪

♪ Mardi Gras
has come to town ♪

♪ time to lay
your burden down ♪

♪ how bad can
Tuesday get? ♪

♪ boy, you ain't seen
nothing yet. ♪