Bessie Page #7

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right here,

a big dining room table

is gonna go here.

I'm gonna get me a nice rug

for that parlor.

And I'm gonna get me

a baby, too,

and I'm gonna put him

right in there.

- A what?

- Come see the-- a baby.

Come on, see the kitchen.

Always a pleasure.

Bess?

You're gonna have to

start delivering.

I'm a married woman now.

I can't keep doing

these pick-ups.

No problem, ma'am.

What do you want?

I'll follow you home

just like this.

( chuckles )

You trot yourself out there

swinging and dangling.

See what happens.

Yeah, suits me fine.

I don't want you for

no customer anymore, nohow.

Why not?

Every man in your life

is a business relationship.

Your brother's your partner,

your man's your manager,

and your woman

is your dancer.

And you're my

bootlegger.

Not no more.

Matter of fact,

I'm giving you

a full 100% refund.

- Richard.

- Look...

I don't wanna be

in business with you.

I want to be

in love with you.

I'll take the shine.

Fine, take it.

I'm giving it to you.

Not selling it.

I oughta get home to J.G.

Bess.

You don't have to pay

for something

that I'm already

offering for free.

- ( door opens )

- I'm gonna spend it

on you anyhow.

( door shuts )

Sh*t.

( chatter, laughter )

Bessie:
Everybody!

I want you to meet

Jack, Jr.

Junior, this is my family.

Your new family.

That's your Uncle Clarence.

There's your Aunt Viola.

And this is your

new daddy, Jack.

J.G.,

come meet your son,

Jack, Jr.

How old are you, boy?

Seven years old, sir.

Where are you from?

Shelby County

Children's Home, sir.

- An orphanage?

- Mm, mm, mm!

Jack, Jr.:

I don't know

about that, sir,

but that's what

she told me to say.

Well, what's your

real name?

My name is

Jack Gee, Jr., sir.

- Viola:
Oh!

- ( all laughing )

Come on over here

and give your daddy a hug.

Bessie:
Whoo!

Smells good in here.

Eat as much

as you want, Jack Jr.

- Viola:
Mmm!

- Happy Thanksgiving.

Jack:
What you

looking at, Viola?

Come on, sit down here.

With that fork there.

- Know how to use a knife?

- Yes, sir.

Jack:

That piece of chicken

right there.

( chattering )

Clarence:

You want some of this

dressing here?

( chatter continues )

Clarence:

Wait till I'm finished.

( woman vocalizing )

( giggling )

Come here!

Jack:

Bessie, where you at, baby?

Put 'em up.

Yeah, guard yourself. Bam!

I'll knock you out.

Guard that face.

Bam, bam!

Come one, you ain't gonna

whup nobody like that.

Now, you gotta get in there,

baby. Come on. Pop!

- Oh.

- There you go. Pop!

There you go.

Get in there on him.

You can't get him

if you're afraid

to take one.

Block him.

Block now. Block!

What you trying

to do, huh?

What you trying

to do?

Get him, Mama!

Yeah, get him!

You gonna beat

your old man, huh?

Louis and I

are getting married.

You and who?

I can't no more.

I want a family.

Like you.

Showbiz life

can't last forever.

I just want

a normal life.

Thank you.

( applause )

Woman #1:

We love you, Bessie!

Man #1:

Love you, Bessie.

It's a long old road

But I'm gonna find

the end

A long old road

Mm-mm

Find the end

And when I get there...

( humming )

Shake hands

With a friend

Come on, come on.

No, no, no,

you don't-- no.

- No, no, no.

- What the f***

is this sh*t?

Don't worry about it.

B*tch!

Jack, you f***er!

"The most beautiful

blues sensation"? Huh?

Jack:

The hell are you

talking about?

I'm talking about you backing

this b*tch with my money!

- With what?

- I can't believe

you did this sh*t!

- I gotta see it

on the street!

- That's my money!

You're spending my money

on this b*tch!

That's my goddamn money.

( shouting )

- I made you!

- ...f***ing money.

( Jack growls )

- ( Bessie grunts )

- Huh?

- You promised me, Jack.

- You promised me, too!

You promised me, too!

Where you get

them earrings from, huh?

I know where.

That goddamn bootlegger.

- You--

- Don't touch me!

Don't you f***ing touch me!

You want this b*tch,

you eat her!

- You eat her.

- ( Jack growls )

Crazy.

Where are you going?

You're leaving?

You're leaving?

You don't get to leave me!

I should've left your ass!

You got what you want.

You can have it.

- Get away.

- ( groans )

Jack!

Go!

You go!

Jack!

( car door slams )

- Jack!

- ( engine whirring )

Jack!

- Bessie:
No!

- ( glass shattering )

- I can't stand it.

- You want me to get

your medicine?

What did you say to me?

Your medicine, honey.

Don't think I don't know

what you be saying about me.

Get out!

- Get out.

- We're not talking

about--

Get the f*** out

of my room!

Get out of here, Viola!

The f*** is you

looking at? Go!

( glass shatters )

- It ain't my fault!

- ( glass shatters )

I hate you.

Go, go.

You think I don't know?

Yeah, I know.

Leave me alone.

( muted footsteps )

Man:
Shh, shh, shh.

Come on, come on.

Hurry up.

J.G.?

- Hey!

- Let's go.

- Who the hell are you?

- Jack, Jr.:
Mama!

What you doing in--

- Come on, boy.

- Jack!

- Mama!

- Junior! No!

Mama! Mama, keep me!

- Jack, don't you--

- Mama, keep me!

What you doing?

- That's my stuff.

- Mama!

Hurry up.

Get in there.

- ( shouting )

- Hey!

- I'll kill you.

- Get this sh*t off.

- ( grunting )

- Get off of me.

Get Junior in the car!

Stealing my baby!

You're trying to kill me.

- Jack:
Stop it, stop it!

- Mama!

You ain't fit

to be a mother!

Can't just leave him?

Just leave him, okay?

You're high, you're drunk.

You ain't fit!

You're just trying

to kill me!

You ain't gonna never

see Junior again!

You're a liar!

I'll kill you!

I'll kill myself.

- Go! Let's go!

- No! Stop!

Jack, Jr.:
Mama!

- Junior!

- Mama, keep me!

Mama!

You let him in.

( sobbing )

Man on radio:

...to glimpse a small,

flickering hope.

General Motors,

that formidable

industrial titan,

has not only weathered

the Great Depression,

but has bested it

in a demonstration

of typically American

fortitude and ingenuity.

Where others are

shuttering their windows,

General Motors turns in

its second quarter of profits.

( radio continues,

muted )

( children shouting )

Hmm.

( radio play playing )

Narrator:
...draws his

gleaming revolver,

its cold silvery glint

reflected in a dark puddle.

( radio play continues )

Hey, there's food here, now.

You need to eat

something.

( jazz music playing )

Come on.

You have anybody

under that name?

No.

Yeah, yeah,

I'll take it.

Mm-hmm.

- Old, empty bed

- It's gonna be all right.

Springs hard as lead

Feel like old Ned

Wish I was dead

All my life through

I've been so

black and blue

I'm white inside

But that don't help

my case

'Cause I can't hide

- What is in my face

- We're going on a trip.

( scatting )

How will it end?

- Ain't got a friend

- You ready?

- Yeah.

- My only sin

Is in my skin

Clarence:

One last drive, then we

have to sell this, too.

Recording:

...to be so black

and blue?

( laughs )

Okay.

( chattering )

Yeah, she just

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