Bird Page #4

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The climate is advantageous.

He lives there.

Pull up over there. Pull up.

What time is it?

- It's almost 10. Won't you be late?

- The lights are on. He's there.

Bet he's in there.

Let's go.

I ought to get me a house like that.

What's stopping you?

Birks.

What happened?

I'm not that late.

No audience, man.

The bar's open,

the engagement's over.

I guess they weren't

quite ready to be invaded.

So, anyway...

...we'll take a plane home.

I got your ticket here.

What is that?

We had a radio gig tomorrow.

We did, Yard, we did.

But the station joined in the ban.

"Bebop tends to pervert young minds."

Who said that?

Somebody with enough juice to get

12 radio stations to turn us off.

So we going home tomorrow.

How about you?

Birks, look, a ban like that

can't last forever.

We got an audience here, I know we do.

We just got to stick it out.

You gonna hang around here awhile?

Can't go back to New York right now.

What about the rest of my salary?

What salary?

Yard, there have been

a few advances drawn.

Last week you borrowed $20 and kissed

me on my lips when I gave it to you.

You don't remember things like this.

I don't have to remember.

I know you wouldn't lie to me.

Listen, just make sure

somebody has your number...

...and don't stay away too long.

- Birks!

- Yeah--?

Very nice, Charlie. Very nice.

He's clean.

The dope in L.A. dried up

so he had to kick.

That nearly killed him,

so he stayed drunk.

That's how he got sent to Camarillo

where he hasn't had a drink...

...snorted or shot for six months.

He's clean and ready to work.

- According to him.

- No.

According to his record producer

in L.A.

See, what he needs

is a gig out of the state.

- No.

- For God's sake, Sammy!

You hire one Charlie Parker

imitation after another.

I'm telling you,

the real thing's available!

The real thing's

a real pain in my ass.

Listen. Let's play a game.

I'll count to 100 slowly.

By the time I'm done,

name me one other musician...

...who can pack this club

who isn't a pain.

Let alone, I mean, my God...

...we're talking about Charlie Parker.

I'll pay 700 a week.

Wait a minute, wait, wait.

That's for him, a second horn

and a rhythm section.

If he handles it right,

he'll clear a couple hundred.

Three-week guarantee.

You're wonderful.

I thought the fountain of youth

was in Florida.

Everybody says that to me.

I learned something.

They can get it out of your blood.

Sure.

But they can never get it

out of your mind.

I appreciate what you did for me.

I will never, ever forget it.

Don't.

Don't what?

Don't be humble.

Anybody else but you.

Chan, when a convict's on the street

after a long time away...

...he's careful...

...not humble.

Learn to say, "You're welcome."

You're welcome.

Will you stop trying

to look for a place to run?

I just came here to say thanks.

That's all.

The rest of it will wait.

I'm going to go find me a quintet

and get started.

Take a look at her, at least.

Well, who could blame me now?

What's your name, little one?

My name is Kim.

What's yours?

Welcome home from the hospital, Daddy.

How'd you know I was

in the hospital, shorty boodle?

I read it in the newspaper.

Didn't you know you're famous?

Are you all better?

He's all better.

Is Grandma cooking supper?

Yeah, but she calls it dinner.

She says supper's for after the show.

She got that right.

I'll be right up.

Where you going?

Who's that?

Business.

How you feeling?

You read the hospital report,

I didn't.

Get in, let's go for a ride.

I have a car.

It's getting a ring job

on the FDR Drive.

Want to know when

your wife brought it in?

Or the serial number

on the engine?

M-431-232-95.

Get in the goddamn car.

I've been on your case 10 years now.

I never seen you worse.

You can't play more than three nights

a month in New York...

...and New York's the only place

you can work.

Not an owner on the road

will take the chance anymore.

You blew a three-nighter

at 1:
00 this morning.

I talked with Steinberg.

He's ready to wash his hands

of you for good.

You talked to Steinberg.

You're sick, Bird.

You're an alcoholic,

you're a junkie...

...and your mind is hanging

by a f***ing thread.

Yeah, right. Right.

It's possible I could change some

attitudes about your cabaret card.

I think that would make

a difference in your situation.

It'd make a world of a difference,

wouldn't it?

I can give you three, four names...

...all junkies.

Once you nail them, wouldn't be

no more heroin in New York City.

Let me out of this goddamn car.

They wouldn't think twice

about doing it to you.

It's time to save your life.

This is the year I'm supposed to die.

You missed dinner.

How about supper?

I'm sorry. I just went for a walk.

Were you worried?

What do you want me to say?

Who was that man?

Somebody from this world.

Nobody I ever want you

to concern yourself about.

It's dirty.

It's dirty.

Where do you think

I've lived my life till I met you?

It's my wish that

you remain my child wife.

Would you do that for me?

You've switched from

Bette Davis movies to Jane Eyre.

Come on home and eat, Rochester.

After a while.

Remember, you've got

five tunes to write.

Listen to me, the voice of duty.

Oh, and guess what?

Steinberg sent us a check.

We'll be okay for two weeks.

Chan?

That's me.

Don't ever leave old Pop.

He won't drink any more iodine...

...and he loves you.

I know.

I read the note

on the refrigerator.

It's a nice, tight room.

Good acoustics.

Better than anything

that ever was on 52nd Street.

Buck and a quarter admission,

2.50 minimum at the tables.

They're booked up the first week

and they haven't even opened yet.

Why name it after me?

Who the hell else

could they name it after?

Don't you like the idea?

I like the idea.

I'm flattered by it actually.

I'm overwhelmed.

I just wish it was tonight

because I'm broke...

...and I'm trying to hold on

to my rhythm section and stuff.

I'll lean on the record company.

Maybe they want you in Paris.

Looks like you need

something better than a rose.

What the f*** you want

to go back to New York for?

Because.

Yeah? "Because."

You know, I been here four years.

I work 10 months out of the year.

More, if I want to.

Go to Belgium, Holland, Sweden.

You could do the same thing.

You know, I don't go for

that sh*t you people play...

...but over here,

they are crazy about it.

Now, you don't get rich, but you live.

And they treat you like a man.

Now, what you got to go back to?

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

They named a place after you.

How much of that place do you own?

When the gig is over, you still

be scuffling to find the next one.

If there is a next one.

You can't earn no living...

...playing jazz...

...in the States.

Diz can.

Duke can.

Well, you ain't Diz

and you sure as hell ain't Duke.

And they ain't me.

What the hell does that matter?

I'm not talking about

what you do on the bandstand.

Everybody said you the man.

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