Bird Page #3

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Most of the cats did.

Every now and then,

some sucker tries to turn her out...

...and that just gets me mad.

Frog, as great as you are,

do I look like a pimp?

Ask me something else.

"Do I look like a pimp?"

Is the moon high?

He looks like a player.

Doesn't your mother mind

these people cooling out here?

No, she's used to it.

And now...

...my record collection.

Damn, be cool.

I'm sorry.

You should be.

Maybe later.

It's all right. Can we just go

find someplace where we can be alone?

- Why?

- I haven't finished talking to you.

Well, there's the suicide room.

Let's go.

Aptly named.

So.

Why don't you tell me

some more about Westchester?

You live in a pretty house?

I had a room

that looked out over a garden.

The night of my sixth birthday...

...my father had the orchestra

from his club...

...stand under that window

and serenade me.

They played "Why Do I Love You."

That's nice.

That's real nice.

Yeah.

He had a way.

Okay.

You walked me home.

You got me alone.

You managed to get me talking...

...and I've told you

some of my girlish secrets.

But you haven't told me a thing.

What's going on?

There's one night in my life

I never want to forget.

I never want to go through it again.

I was 15...

...and I woke up feeling more pain

than I've ever felt.

I didn't know why until

somebody told me I was strung out.

Somebody had to tell me that.

You know, I always thought that...

...if I hadn't asked...

...then I wouldn't be.

You make me feel...

...very peaceful. You know?

You're not my type, man.

I know that.

Peaceful. Peaceful?

Is that what you mean

by "rings are cheap"?

I don't want to make

anybody feel peaceful, man.

I was born to drive men crazy!

Somebody told me...

...that I'm the only woman

in New York that you haven't had.

I just made a simple statement.

Don't misunderstand me.

I appreciate the honor. It's not like

I don't know who I'm talking to--

Stop it.

You're embarrassing yourself.

I'm sorry.

But if you and me got together....

- Oh....

- Mm-hm.

What I mean by my type--

Is the type that you don't

have to be faithful to.

I know that.

Everybody says you're a mind reader.

I am?

And I'm going to Chicago.

And you're sorry that you can 't take me

No.

No.

And you quit reading my mind!

Thank you on behalf of the band.

And now we're going to leave you

in the very capable hands...

...of the Margie Hyams quintet.

- Wait here.

- Right.

Sounded good, Bird.

How would you know?

You weren't out front.

You always sound good.

So, what do you know?

I don't know you, for one thing.

But you're waiting for me.

The guy you're waiting for sent me

instead. What's the difference?

About six months.

And Kentucky's cold this time of year.

I'll pass on that.

You think I'm on the squad

or something?

Squad?

What squad?

That's too much.

You know, I never forget a face.

You having a big night, Esteves?

We pinched a few here and there.

Not yours, but he's heard about it.

Where you going?

I don't know.

Take it personally.

Watch out.

The nabs are out tonight.

Good night.

Mrs. Berg.

You like what I played tonight?

I'm not a music critic.

You could play "Star Eyes."

It wouldn't kill you.

I'll be happy to do that for you.

And your lovely daughter,

is she still in Chicago?

My lovely daughter

is still in Chicago.

Till when?

- Bird--

- You know...

...I have my ways

of finding these things out.

I just want to welcome her back,

you know?

Like Broadway Ben would.

Where are we going?

What's-her-name didn't

ask Valentino that.

Vilma Bnky, and he had her in

front of him and she was in a swoon.

Now, you see?

- I got a way about me too.

- I'll say.

[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]

That's Bird. Charlie Parker.

- Charlie Parker.

- Where?

This music is so corny.

You got to stop running away

from honest sentiment.

- Am I running?

- Yeah.

Oh.

I remember when I first met you...

...you looked so young, it scared me.

You awake?

You awake?

God, you make me feel so peaceful.

I feel like a coward too because...

...I love you and I don't think

I could say that if you was awake.

What?

You making out you're asleep,

like a kid?

Good thing it's dark, huh?

You didn't say how much

you liked the road.

I'm going on the road again.

To Hollywood, back with Dizzy.

I hear things about it

that make me jumpy.

What?

Stuff's not easy to find,

for one thing.

Tough cops.

We'll be the first

to play the new sound.

I don't know how they'd like that.

What do you think about

keeping me company?

Oh, yeah.

Hunt for drugs during the day...

...and lead the applause at night.

What are you so mad at?

Who's mad?

I'm not mad.

I'm pregnant.

You know how to flatter a guy.

You could give yourself a couple

of hours before you decide that.

Billy McNabb?

No.

Nobody you know.

Nobody I know well enough

to ever want to see him again.

So....

What now?

Oh, my God.

Do you realize I haven't told

my mother and I've told you?

You could've told me

a little bit sooner.

Hey.

If men could get pregnant,

how many kids would you have...

...by now?

Chan, Chan, Chan.

That's me.

I got to go. I got a gig across

the street before I go to Hollywood.

Where's your horn?

I'll borrow one.

Excuse me.

When you going to California?

Couple of days.

Take care of yourself.

Oh, no.

He hocked his horn...

...to rent that damn horse.

[GIGGLING]

[JAZZ PLAYING]

Contributing factors

to patient's nervous breakdown...

...in California, winter 1946,

were as follows:

A:
Disorientation due

to unfamiliar surroundings.

B:
Disappointing public reaction,

bordering on hostility...

... to patient's

particular style of music.

C:
Reduced availability of narcotics

due to police crackdown.

Any way I can help?

No.

See, I'm getting on right now.

Yeah, I know.

You know?

The less you know about getting on,

the better off you be.

Another thing, junior.

If I ever hear about you

using this sh*t...

...I will come from my grave

and I will haunt you.

Have we met?

No, sir.

My name's Rodney.

You play, Rodney?

Yeah, I'm with Krupa.

Do you play?

- Trumpet.

- Oh.

Then you came here to see Dizzy play.

I took the job touring instead

of staying in Philadelphia...

...because the tour came to L.A.

and I knew you'd be here.

Yeah, I came to hear you.

Well, all right!

Well, then, I'm sorry

that I kept you waiting.

- A good crowd in there?

- So-so.

So-so.

We don't get many

good crowds out here.

They'll catch on.

It took me awhile.

I thought I wanted to be Harry James.

Yeah, well, I want to

be Harry James sometimes.

Listen to that.

You know, Audrey, if we could really

hear every sound in the world...

...we'd go crazy.

He must be.

Crazy, you know?

He always looked fairly normal to me.

Yeah, well, I'm talking

about Stravinsky.

So am I.

We go to the same dentist.

Yeah?

He lives around here?

Yes, and Schnberg and Heifetz...

...and Huxley and Thomas Mann.

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